The name of Larry Nassar, the former sports physician convicted of sexually abusing numerous young female athletes, has been taken off the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. This development was confirmed by the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday.
Legal Rationale Behind the Removal
This action stems from a recent Michigan Supreme Court decision concerning the state's registry statutes. Nassar is among more than 20,000 individuals whose names were recently expunged from the Michigan State Police database.
The state's highest court ruled on September 9 that 2021 amendments to Michigan's Sex Offender Registration Act cannot be applied retrospectively to offenses committed prior to the law's changes.
As a direct consequence of this judicial determination, state police were compelled to delist individuals whose criminal acts occurred before July 1, 2011.
Although Nassar’s crimes did not become publicly known, nor was he arrested or convicted, until years later, his unlawful conduct technically transpired before the specified July 1, 2011, cut-off date. Consequently, he is no longer legally mandated to be included on the public registry.
Prosecutor Expresses Strong Disapproval
The Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office voiced strong criticism regarding the decision to remove Nassar from the registry. Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd noted that while Nassar’s convictions occurred after the crucial deadline, the timing of the actual offenses created this unexpected exemption.
The prosecutor’s office asserted that the Supreme Court could have adopted an alternative interpretation of the law to ensure that certain offenders, including Nassar, remained on the public list. Furthermore, the office added that discussions regarding the overall effectiveness of the registry should be handled by legislative bodies, rather than being determined by the judiciary.
The Scope of Nassar's Crimes
Nassar served as a team physician for USA Gymnastics until 2014 and for Michigan State University until 2016. The investigation into his widespread abuse evolved into a national scandal, coming to light after Rachael Denhollander publicly accused him in September 2016.
During his January 2018 court sentencing, dozens of victims bravely testified, including Olympic champions Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber. Later, prominent athletes such as Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney provided testimony before Congress in September 2021, shedding further light on the systemic issues that enabled his abuse.
Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina characterized Nassar as "possibly the most prolific serial child sex abuser in history."
No Public Safety Risk Posed
Despite his removal from the public registry, authorities emphasize there is no current threat to public safety. The former physician is presently serving multiple lengthy prison sentences for his convictions, which include state charges for sexual assault and federal charges related to child pornography.
Given the decades-long sentences he received, officials indicate it is highly improbable that Nassar will ever be released from prison before his death.
