Larry Nassar Removed from Michigan Sex Offender Registry Following Court Ruling

<p>Larry Nassar, the former sports physician convicted of sexually abusing numerous young female athletes, has been removed from the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. This development was confirmed by the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office on October 1, 2026, and is the result of a recent ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court regarding the state's registry laws.</p><p>On September 9, the state Supreme Court ruled that amendments made to Michigan's Sex Offender Registration Act in 2021 cannot be applied retroactively to crimes committed before July 1, 2011. Consequently, state police were required to remove individuals whose criminal conduct occurred prior to this date from the registry.</p><p>Although Nassar was not publicly accused, arrested, or convicted until years later, his crimes occurred before the 2011 cutoff date, which means he is no longer legally required to be listed on the public registry.</p><p>The Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office criticized the removal, with Prosecutor Doug Lloyd noting that while Nassar’s convictions occurred after the deadline, the conduct itself exploited a loophole in the law. The office stated that the Supreme Court could have interpreted the law differently to ensure certain offenders remained on the public list, and emphasized that discussions about the registry's effectiveness should be addressed by lawmakers rather than the judiciary.</p><p>Nassar served as a team physician for USA Gymnastics until 2014 and for Michigan State University until 2016. His actions were investigated after Rachael Denhollander publicly accused him in September 2016, leading to a national scandal.</p><p>During his January 2018 sentencing, numerous victims, including Olympic champions Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber, testified against him. Notable figures such as Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney later testified before Congress in September 2021.</p><p>Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina described Nassar during sentencing as "possibly the most prolific serial child sex abuser in history." Despite his removal from the registry, authorities have stated that there is no threat to the public, as Nassar is currently serving multiple lengthy prison sentences for state sexual assault and federal child pornography charges. Given the length of his sentences, it is deemed highly unlikely that he will be released from prison before his death.</p>