Larry Nassar has been removed from Michigan’s sex offender registry after a state Supreme Court ruling led to about 20,000 people being taken off the list.
The Michigan State Police removed offenders whose crimes took place before 1 July 2011, following the court’s decision that amendments made to the state’s Sex Offender Registration Act in 2021 could not be applied retrospectively to older incidents.
A search for Nassar’s name now produces no result on the registry. His conduct occurred before 2011, although his convictions came later.
Nassar was the US women’s gymnastics team doctor from 1996 to 2014 and a team physician at Michigan State University until 2016. He used those positions to sexually assault hundreds of athletes, according to the material.
The Eaton County prosecutor’s office criticised the decision, saying: “The Michigan Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate SORA requirements for these offenders is deeply concerning.”
The office said the court could have chosen an alternative that would have allowed offenders to remain registered, but instead “toss the scalpel aside and use a chainsaw.”
Nassar is serving multiple lengthy prison sentences that will last for decades. The ruling means tens of thousands of offenders will no longer appear on Michigan’s sex offender registry.
