Former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar has signed a deal agreeing to plead guilty to three federal charges relating to child pornography.
Here is a short timeline of events leading up to the deal:
September 16: Michigan State University sent a letter to Nassar informing him that the university was considering his termination due to assault allegations.
From AB: MSU Scrambles to Respond to Assault Allegations
September 19: Nassar took the laptop from his office at the university and paid to have all data professionally deleted.
September 20: Nassar was terminated from his post at MSU for assault and withholding information after working there for nearly 20 years.
December: Nassar was indicted on charges of obtaining and possessing child pornography.
Days after the initial arrest, an FBI agent testifying in a detention hearing confirmed that a search of Nassar’s property turned up hard drives in a dumpster outside his home that contained images and video of child pornography, as well as footage of Nassar assaulting young girls in a pool.
A few months later, the U.S. Attorney’s Office added a third charge to Nassar’s offenses for destroying evidence. According to USA Today, “the plea agreement states that Nassar had the laptop erased and put the hard drives in a trash can ‘to impede and obstruct’ the investigation.”
Under the plea agreement, Nassar will be required to register as a sex offender and will be released from prosecution by the Western District of Michigan for his alleged exploitation of children.
The deal resolved one of four criminal cases brought against Nassar, with three remaining to be prosecuted by the Michigan Attorney’s office. If convicted by the state, Nassar faces a life sentence in prison.
He is due to reappear in court in August.
Related: USA Gymnastics Report: Culture Must Change, Opinion: Michigan State to Blame for Gymnastics Abuse
