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Victims Detail Sexual Assaults During Hearing In Larry Nassar Case

Former gymnasts testified that a Michigan sports doctor molested them at a hearing to determine if he will face trial on sexual assault charges. (NOTE: graphic details within the article)

Three sexual assault victims testified on the first day of a preliminary hearing for Dr. Larry Nassar. The hearing in Mason will help determine if the former Michigan State University sports doctor will go to trial.

Nassar is charged with sexually assaulting seven gymnasts at his Michigan State clinic. He's pleaded not guilty.

Assistant Attorney General Angela Pavilaitis called Rachael Denhollander to the stand to testify.  WKAR News usually does not pubish the names of sexual assault victims, but Denhollander has publicly identified herself.

Denhollander, a former gymnast, was 15 years old in 2000 when she first started seeing Nassar for treatment. 

She testified that Nassar routinely penetrated her vagina with two fingers during a series of exams, often with her own mother in the room. 

Denhollander says it wasn't until Nassar massaged her breast on her fifth appointment that she realized she was being sexually assaulted. 

She says she was urged by a physician's assistant in 2003 to report Nassar, but opted not to, fearing a medical board would not believe her. 

Two other people identified as Victim D and Victim G gave similar accounts of the alleged actions. Victim D is a minor. Victim G is an adult.

Also on Friday, the judge ordered several members of an NBC affiliate to leave the courtroom. It was discovered the station had been live streaming a feed that could potentially reveal the unidentified victims.

Follow WKAR's Kevin Lavery on Twitter @WKARnewsroom for tweets from courtroom.

Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.
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