Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics physician convicted of sexually abusing girls and women over a period of decades while claiming to provide medical treatment, has been removed from Michigan’s sex offender registry thanks to a legal technicality.
Thousands of other offenders were also taken off that list after a court ruling involving how the state’s registration law can be applied.
On 9 September, the Michigan supreme court ruled that the state’s sex offender registration act (Sora) cannot be applied retroactively to cases involving offenses committed before the law’s relevant date. Michigan’s state police, as a result, removed more than 20,000 people whose offenses occurred before 1 July 2011 from the agency’s online sex offender database.
Nassar, 63, was among those removed. The Eaton county prosecuting attorney’s office – which was among the agencies to prosecute him – confirmed Nassar’s absence from the registry by sharing a screenshot showing a search for his name returning zero results.
“The Michigan supreme court’s decision to eliminate Sora requirements for these offenders is deeply concerning,” the attorney’s office said in a statement. “Our community, along with the victims of these crimes, expected the registry to provide a measure of protection and awareness – assurances that have now been removed by the court’s ruling.”
In another post, the prosecutor’s office said that although officials “disagree with the court and have concern about the potential risk created by the decision”, the office is “bound to respect and follow the ruling”.
Michigan lawmakers do not have the authority to reverse the state supreme court’s decision. However, the legislature could pass new legislation that would place the affected offenders back in the database.
Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to as many as 175 years in state and federal prison after being convicted of sexually abusing women and girls for decades while working at Michigan State University and serving as a doctor for Team USA Gymnastics.
As of Friday, Nassar’s projected earliest release date for his federal prison sentence was in 2068, when he would be 104.
More than 150 women and girls have accused Nassar of assault. His accusers include Olympic gold medal-winning 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 being stabbed multiple times in July 2023 while imprisoned.
During his sentencing hearing, his accusers delivered impact statements describing the shame and trauma they said they experienced because of Nassar.
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Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
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