Disgraced gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar removed from Michigan sex offender registry | Michigan

Larry Nassar, a former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor convicted of sexually abusing girls and women for decades while pretending to provide medical treatment, has been removed from Michigan’s sex offender registry thanks to a legal technicality.

Thousands of other offenders were also removed from that list after a court ruling regarding how the state’s registration law can be enforced.

On September 9, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the Sex Offender Registration Act (Sora) cannot be applied retroactively to cases involving offenses committed before the relevant date of the law. As a result, Michigan State Police removed more than 20,000 people whose offenses occurred before July 1, 2011, from the agency’s online sex offender database.

Nassar, 63, was among those deported. The Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office — which was among the agencies charged with prosecuting him — confirmed Nassar’s absence from the registry by sharing a screenshot showing a search for his name returning no results.

“The Michigan Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate Sora requirements for these offenders is deeply concerning,” the DA’s office said in a statement. “Our community, like the victims of these crimes, expected the registry to provide a measure of protection and awareness – safeguards that have now been removed by the court’s decision. »

In another post, the prosecutor’s office said that while officials “disagree with the court and are concerned about the potential risk created by the decision,” the office is “required to respect and follow the decision.”

Michigan lawmakers do not have the power to overturn the state Supreme Court’s decision. However, lawmakers could pass a new law that would put affected offenders back into the database.

Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to up to 175 years in state and federal prison after being convicted of sexually abusing women and girls for decades while he worked at Michigan State University and was a doctor for the USA Gymnastics team.

As of Friday, Nassar’s scheduled release date for his federal prison sentence was set for 2068, when he would be 104 years old.

More than 150 women and girls have accused Nassar of assault. Her accusers include Olympic gold medalist gymnasts Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas.

Nassar pleaded guilty in November 2017 to multiple counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He survived multiple stabbings in July 2023 while imprisoned.

At the sentencing hearing, his accusers gave statements describing the shame and trauma they said they suffered because of Nassar.

• Information and support for anyone affected by issues of rape or sexual abuse is available from the following organisations. In the United States, Rainn offers support at 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available on 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines are available at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html