Larry Nassar alleges he was assaulted in prison

Dr. Larry Nassar alleges he was assaulted in federal prison, where he’s serving a 60-year sentence. (AP)
Dr. Larry Nassar alleges he was assaulted in federal prison, where he’s serving a 60-year sentence. (AP)

Larry Nassar says he was assaulted by fellow inmates inside a Tucson, Arizona, federal prison where he is serving a 60-year sentence for child pornography.

The claim was included in court filings Tuesday in Ingham County (Michigan) court where Nassar is seeking a resentencing on a state plea deal for raping hundreds of girls and women who came to the former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State doctor seeking medical care.

Nassar is asserting that the sentencing judge in that case, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, all but admitted during a lengthy sentencing hearing that she was “not an unbiased and impartial judge.” Aquilina sentenced him to state prison for 40 to 175 years.

A resentencing would be mostly pointless. Nassar, 54, is unlikely to outlive his federal charge, which he must serve at least 85 percent (or 51 years) before being eligible for release. He was also sentenced to state prison in Michigan for 40 to 125 years on separate charges in Eaton County. A new judge in Ingham County would likely apply a similar sentence that would be tacked on also.

No matter what, Nassar is never getting out alive.

Aquilina was hailed publicly for her willingness to allow each and every Nassar victim to address him and the court. A total of 156 did. The multi-week hearing became a powerful call to arms for survivors of abuse, including high-profile gymnasts Aly Raisman, Jordyn Weiber and McKayla Maroney. Powerful, insightful and emotional testimony of so many victims and their families created momentum to call for change at USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Michigan State. Aquilina did little to hide her disgust with Nassar during the hearing.

As for the alleged prison assault, no details are provided other than that Nassar told his attorneys he was attacked within hours of being released into general population at the maximum security FCI-Tucson. Prison officials told the Detroit News they had no record of the assault. Nassar’s court-appointed appellate attorneys provided no information about how the incident may have occurred or any injuries that may have been sustained.

An attack could prompt moving Nassar to a different prison or for him to remain in protective custody while serving out his time.

Nassar was a longtime sports doctor who abused his professional standing to repeatedly sexually assault patients, some as young as 11 years old. Reports from victims were ignored by officials or investigations went nowhere for over 20 years, allowing Nassar to continue his reign of terror. Both USA Gymnastics and Michigan State have changed leadership since the scandal broke and begun implementing reforms.

More from Yahoo Sports:
Aly Raisman’s first impression of USOC’s new CEO isn’t good
Former Michigan standout and Dolphins LB retires at 23
Joe Thomas has lost 50 pounds since retiring from Cleveland Browns
Several players named in NFL Network sexual harassment suit

Advertisement