A grand jury in Texas has charged former Michigan State and USA Gymnastics Team Doctor Larry Nassar with six additional counts of sexual assault for attacks that allegedly occurred at the famed Karoyli Ranch, a gymnastics training center for budding Olympians. The Karoyli Ranch near Houston is run by the notoriously abusive gymnastic coaches Martha and Bele Karoyli. County prosecutors have declined to file charges against the couple.
In January, Nassar was sentenced in Ingham County, Michigan to 40-175 years in prison for sexually abusing girls who sought medical treatment. At Nassar’s sentencing hearing, 156 survivors made statements about their experiences and exposed the system that allows predators to prey on young girls. Nassar is accused of sexually assaulting over 200 women and girls.
Additionally, an Eaton County court sentenced Nassar to another 40 to 125 years in prison on three counts of criminal sexual conduct. That sentence will be served concurrently with the Ingham County sentence after Nassar serves a separate 60-year sentence in federal prison on child pornography convictions
The survivors who have spoken out about the abuse they suffered under Nassar have sharply criticized Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and the US Olympic Committee for failing to take any action with regard to accusations against Nassar. Since 1997, women and girls have reported being sexually assaulted by the former doctor, yet none of the institutions that employed him ever took any notable action to investigate him or protect other athletes from his assaults.
Even Michigan State’s Title IX coordinator dismissed reports from students alleging Nassar had sexually assaulted them. After Nassar was reported to the FBI in July 2015, he was no longer allowed to treat patients at USA Gymnastics, but was permitted to continue sexually assaulting young women and girls for over a year at Michigan State.
In February, Congress passed the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act, which makes it mandatory for sports organizations to report alleged sexual abuse of athletes to law enforcement or social services within 24 hours. The bill was passed after Nassar was sentenced to a combined total of over 200 years in prison for possessing child pornography and sexually abusing over 200 women and girls who sought medical treatment.
Media Resources: CNN 6/29/18; Washington Post 6/29/18; Feminist Newswire 2/6/18
