Larry Nassar’s requests to be resentenced are now in the hands of the Michigan Court of Appeals.
An Eaton County judge denied the former Michigan State University sports doctor’s request. Nassar sexually assaulted his young female patients for years. Lately, he’s been trying to get a new sentencing hearing.
Nassar was sentenced to at least 40 years in prison in both an Ingham County Court and an Eaton County Court. An Ingham County judge had previously denied his request for a new sentence.
Now, an Eaton County judge says the case in her court was also properly decided.
Nassar’s attorneys had tried to argue that Judge Janice Cunningham should not have allowed victims to talk about outside entities like Michigan State and USA Gymnastics during their impact statements.
Malaika Ramsey-Heath is one of Nassar’s attorneys.
“One speaker talked about the administration of the school, referencing MSU. And concluded by saying, ‘Larry have fun in prison, it’s your turn to be abused,’” said Ramsey-Heath.
Nassar’s attorneys said these types of comments swayed the judge to give Nassar the high end of a previously agreed to sentencing range.
But the judge said she only considered factors that she was allowed to by law.
“The victims were properly granted the right to speak about their experiences as a whole,” she said.
About 50 people spoke against Nassar at his Eaton County sentencing.
Nassar’s attorneys now plan to ask the Court of Appeals to take the case. Because Nassar pleaded guilty, the court does not have to consider his appeal.
