Former Michigan State University gymnastics coach, Kathie Klages, will serve 90 days in jail and 18 months probation for lying to authorities investigating the sexual assaults committed by Larry Nassar.
That sentence was handed down Tuesday by an Ingham County Circuit Court judge.
Klages was found guilty in February by a jury decision in Judge Joyce Draganchuk’s courtroom on two counts of lying to a peace officer – a felony and a high court misdemeanor.
Klages’ conviction established that some MSU officials were aware of Nassar’s sexual assaults in 1997, and that no action was taken to halt his criminal conduct and protect the young women he later victimized until 2016.
Since the investigation began in 2016, hundreds of young women have come forward to report they were victims of Nassar, who was previously an osteopathic sports physician at MSU, Twistar and USA Gymnastics.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Tuesday in a statement:
“The evidence clearly points to the fact that Ms. Klages was aware – for decades – of Larry Nassar’s actions. She did nothing to protect the young women who were counting on her to stand up for them. Ms. Klages chose to remain silent at a time when doing the right thing should’ve motivated her to do the very opposite and speak up on behalf of the victims. Her inaction empowered Larry Nassar to continue committing his heinous crimes, and for her dishonesty, Ms. Klages will be forever tied to the trail of victims Nassar left behind.”
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