U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles announces federal charges for possession of child pornography against former Michigan State University gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 in Grand Rapids. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)
Neil Blake
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Already facing complaints he sexually abused up to 50 girls and women over the years, Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor on the MSU faculty, has been indicted on federal child-pornography charges.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles Jr. announced the federal indictments on Monday. The charges carry penalties of at least five years, and up to 40 years, in prison if convicted.
Miles said a federal grand jury determined that Nassar possessed thousands of images of child pornography from February 2003 to September.
Nassar is held on the federal charges pending a hearing in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids on Wednesday.
13 to sue MSU over former USA Gymnastics doctor's sexual abuse scandal
Thirteen women and girls reportedly plan to sue Michigan State University over the school not properly investigating sexual abuse complaints concerning a former faculty member.
Miles spoke during a press conference at his office attended by FBI agents and the Michigan State University police chief.
Miles would not provide details of the investigation but said multiple agencies, the FBI and MSU police, in particular, have been conducting the child-pornography investigation. Miles said Nassar is not accused of producing child pornography.
Miles said child pornography is "not a victimless crime. The demand for child pornography fuels the supply. ... (Child pornography) is a very serious crime and really affects our communities in a variety of ways."
Nassar has been indicted on charges of receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography in 2004 in Ingham County and possession of child pornography from 2003 to mid-September.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Shuette last month charged Nassar with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under 13, potential life offenses.
Nassar allegedly abused a girl in his Holt home between 1998 and 2005.
Thirteen girls and woman reportedly plan to sue MSU for not properly investigating sexual-abuse reports about Nassar, the Associated Press has reported.
Beyond his work for USA Gymnastics and MSU, he also worked at Holt High School and a gymnastics club.
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