Former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar, DO, pled guilty to three counts of possessing child porngraphy in a federal court on July 11, ESPN reports. Each charge carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years.
Here's what you should know:
1. Dr. Nassar entered into a plea agreement with the court. Dr. Nassar admitted to downloading several child pornographic images and videos. He attempted to destroy said media in September 2016 by hiring a company to wipe his computer's hard drive and by throwing several hard drives in the trash.
2. Through the plea agreement, U.S. prosecutors are not pursuing charges over two alleged instances of sexual crimes with a minor. The federal judge can consider the charges when sentencing Dr. Nassar, and can sentence him to as many years in prison as deemed necessary.
3. Under the agreement, the suggested sentence is between 22 and 27 years. Dr. Nassar will also have to register as a sex offender and pay restitution.
4. The federal government reserves the right to prosecute him for crimes not mentioned in the plea agreement.
Dr. Nassar is scheduled to stand trial in a Michigan district court for 25 counts of criminal sexual misconduct. Each count carries a potential life sentence.
Dr. Nassar's attorney said that although he pled guilty to the child pornography charges, he maintains his innocence on the sexual misconduct charges.
Dr. Nassar has been accused of molesting more than 100 young women.
5. Dr. Nassar was employed by East Lansing-based Michigan State University from 1997 to September 2016, MLive reports. During that time he served as a sports medicine physician. He also was the head team physician for USA Gymnastics for four Olympics starting in 1996. He was recognized as a top female sports physician.