HUNTSVILLE, Texas. – Prosecutors say disgraced ex-sports doctor Larry Nassar and a former trainer have been charged with sexual abuse stemming from an investigation involving an elite gymnastics center in Texas.
Walker County prosecutor Stephanie Stroud announced Friday that Nassar faces six counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child. A former trainer, Debbie Van Horn, was charged with one count.
The charges stem from an investigation at the famed gymnastics training center run by Bela and Martha Karolyi north of Houston.
Stroud says no charges have been filed against the Karolyis, and that both have been cooperative during the investigation.
Five former gymnasts implored authorities last month to determine whether the Karolyis could have prevented abuse at their since-closed gymnastics ranch. Two of them said Nassar abused them there.
Nassar is serving decades in prison for sexual assault and possession of child pornography in Michigan.
Attorney, John Manly, released a statement after the indictment:
“On behalf of more than 180 victims of Larry Nassar, that I represent, I wish to express profound disappointment in the investigation of this matter by Walker County District Attorney’s office. At least five adults at the Ranch were aware that Nassar had molested children. Ms. Karolyi has testified under oath that she was told by Steve Penny in 2015 that Nassar was molesting young athletes. All of them had a duty under Texas law to report child sexual abuse to law enforcement, they failed to do so, and they are not being held accountable.
They Karolyis did far more than “lease their facility to USAG” as stated by the Walker County D.A.’s office, Martha Karolyi and her husband were the US National team coordinators for two decades. According to many Team USA athletes and Olympic athletes, they have reported that the Karolyis ran their Ranch with an iron fist and the conditions were dreadful. The fact that the Karolyis had one convicted and one alleged sex offender working with children at their Ranch calls into question the statement by the SDA’s office that that they did nothing wrong. Placing all of the blame on USAG and none on the Karolyis is a whitewash.
That is why we asked the Texas Attorney General to take charge of this investigation at an Austin press conference in May. Now it is up to the US Congress, the Federal Department of Justice and the civil justice system to hold the Karolyi’s accountable. We also call upon the US Olympic Committee to demand the resignation of USAG President Kerry Perry and exercise proper oversight over all Olympic Governing Bodies.”