22 sex abuse charges against former US gymnastics doctor

CHICAGO: The authorities in Michigan on Wednesday charged former US national gymnastics team doctor Lawrence Nassar with 22 criminal counts of sexual assault, including of girls under the age of 13.

Nassar, 53, was arrested last November on charges of sexually assaulting a child in Michigan, where he is being held without bail. That case was not connected to athletics, officials said. In December, he was indicted on federal chi ld pornography possession charges. Dozens of women are now suing USA Gymnastics over Nassar’s alleged actions.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette on Wednesday charged Nassar with multiple sexual assault charges in two separate counties – including five counts involving victims under 13 years old. Each charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

Nassar is scheduled to be a r raigned Thursday. Hi s attorney declined AFP’s request for comment, but the doctor has previously denied the allegations of sexual abuse, saying his treatments were legitimate medical practices.

“Dr Nassar preyed on these young girls, he used his status and authority to engage in horrid sexual assaults under the guise of medical procedures.”

Nassar had served on the US gymnastics team as recently as 2015.

Michigan State University, where he had his practice, fi red him in September after multiple accusations surfaced. His medical license was suspended as of January 2017.

The investigation into Nassar is ongoing and the authorities are encouraging others who think they may be victims to come forward.

“The allegations of sexual assault against Dr Nassar continue to increase nearly every day,” Michigan State University Police Chief Jim Dunlap said in a statement.

Over the weekend, three former US national team gymnasts detai led Nas sar ’ s al l eged sexual abuse in a report on CBS television’s news programme “60 Minutes.”

Jamie Dantzscher, a member of the 2000 Sydney Olympic US bronze medal squad, was joined in coming forward publically by Jessica Howard, the US national rhythmic gymnastics champion from 1999 through 2001, and Jeanette Antolin, a US team member from 1995 to 2000.

John Manly – a Cali fornia attorney representing more than 40 women in a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics for failing to protect his clients – says Nassar may have abused hundreds of girls over more than two decades, many at the ranch training headquarters of famed US coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi. — AFP