Sports doctor pleads guilty in child porn case

DETROIT — A former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor accused of molesting dozens of female athletes pleaded guilty Tuesday in a separate case that was a slam-dunk for prosecutors: thousands of images of child pornography discovered in his trash.

Dr. Larry Nassar acknowledged he dumped computer hard drives and paid $49 to have a laptop’s memory wiped clean last fall to “impede and obstruct” investigators who were hearing widespread allegations from women and girls that he had sexually assaulted them.

Nassar, 53, pleaded guilty to three charges in federal court in western Michigan, each carrying up to 20 years in prison. Federal sentences for more than one crime typically run at the same time, but it’s possible that U.S. District Judge Janet Neff could order separate, consecutive punishments for Nassar.

Nassar was a sports doctor at Michigan State who specialized in treating campus gymnasts and others from around the state. He also worked for Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.

His career began to collapse last summer after the Indianapolis Star reported how USA Gymnastics mishandled complaints about sexual misconduct involving the doctor and coaches. Women and girls said they felt empowered to speak up after the newspaper published its stories.