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Disgraced US gymnastics doctor to appeal sentence

By AFP
December 15, 2017

CHICAGO: Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar filed notice Wednesday that he will appeal his 60-year prison sentence for child pornography possession. Nassar pleaded guilty to the charges and last week a federal judge in his home state of Michigan handed down the maximum possible prison term. One of his lawyers filed notice Wednesday of an impending appeal, since the sentence was longer than what had been expected in a plea agreement. Nassar has also pleaded guilty in two separate state courts to sexually abusing young girls, some under 13 years old, under the guise of treatment. He is awaiting additional sentencing in January. More than 100 athletes have accused Nassar of abuse, including members of the gold medal-winning US team. Nassar’s lawyers had agreed not to oppose an advisory sentencing range of 22-27 years in the child pornography case, but US District Court Judge Janet Neff instead handed down an effective life sentence to the 54-year-old.