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U.S. NEWS Saturday 3 February 2018

Judge admonishes victims’ dad

who charged at Nassar in court

By DAVID EGGERT and MIKE sity and his home and was said he had not known
HOUSEHOLDER ordered in December to what exactly his daughters
Associated Press spend 60 years in a federal were going to say about
CHARLOTTE, Mich. (AP) — A prison for child pornogra- their abuse.
distraught father seething phy crimes. “I look over here and Larry
over sexual abuse suffered Nassar pleaded guilty to Nassar’s shaking his head,
by three daughters tried to molesting nine victims in no, like it didn’t happen.
attack former sports doctor Eaton and Ingham coun- ... I’m embarrassed,” Mar-
Larry Nassar in a Michigan ties, but the courts have graves said of his conduct.
courtroom Friday after a been open to anyone who “I’m not here to upstage Randall Margraves, father of three victims of Larry Nassar , left,
lunges at Nassar, bottom right, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, in Eaton
judge rejected his request says she was assaulted dur- my daughters. I’m here to County Circuit Court in Charlotte, Mich.
to confront the “demon” in ing his decades of work help them heal.”q Associated Press
a locked room, a stunning at Michigan State, Twist-
rush that reflected the an- ars and USA Gymnastics,
guish felt by parents who which trains Olympians.
trusted him with their chil- More than 200 accusers so
dren. far have spoken or submit-
Randall Margraves was ted statements in the two
blocked by an attorney, counties, and at least 80
tackled by sheriff’s depu- percent have agreed to
ties and hauled out of be publicly identified.
court. He later apologized, Margraves’ dramatic move
saying he had lost control. occurred after he listened
Eaton County Judge Jan- to two of his daughters
ice Cunningham said there speak in court for 10 min-
was “no way” she would utes. Lauren Margraves, a
fine him or send him to jail college student, said her
under her contempt-of- parents were “filled with
court powers. regret” because they took
“I don’t know what it would three daughters to see
be like to stand there as a Nassar for sports injuries.”I
father and know that three see the look in their faces
of your girls were injured and I know they want to be
physically and emotionally able to do something but
by somebody sitting in a they can’t,” she told Nas-
courtroom. I can’t imagine sar. “The guilt they have will
that,” the judge said. never go away. All this is
Nonetheless, she added, because of you.”
it is “not acceptable that Her father then stepped up
we combat assault with as- and asked the judge if she
sault.” would grant him “five min-
The incident occurred dur- utes in a locked room with
ing the third and final sen- this demon.” Cunningham
tencing hearing for Nassar, declined and also turned
who has admitted to sexu- down his request for “one
ally assaulting girls under minute.” That is when Ran-
the guise of medical treat- dall Margraves rushed to-
ment. ward Nassar.
This case focuses on his There were gasps and tears
work at Twistars, an elite in the courtroom. Assistant
gymnastics club southwest Attorney General Angela
of Lansing. Povilaitis turned to the gal-
Nassar, 54, already will lery and told families to
spend the rest of his life in “use your words,” not vio-
prison. He was sentenced lence.
last week to 40 to 175 During a return to court,
years in prison for assaults Margraves told the judge
at Michigan State Univer- that he just snapped. He