Former MSU Gymnastics Coach's Sentence Includes Jail, Probation

MICHIGAN — Kathie Klages, the former Michigan State University gymnastics coach convicted of lying to police about what she knew regarding the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, was sentenced Tuesday in Ingham County Circuit Court.

Klages will serve 90 days in jail and 18 months probation, the Michigan Attorney General's Office said. The AG's office said Klages will be on tether for 90 days following her release from jail.

“The evidence clearly points to the fact that Ms. Klages was aware — for decades — of Larry Nassar’s actions," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. "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.”

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, according to Nessel.

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, the AG's office said.

Nassar pleaded guilty to seven felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County on Nov. 22, 2017, and to three felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Eaton County on Nov. 29, 2017. He was sentenced in Ingham County to 40-175 years in prison on Jan. 24, 2018, and in Eaton County on Feb. 5, 2018, to 40-125 years in prison.