Larry Nassar victims' dad tries to attack disgraced doctor in court

Last Updated Feb 2, 2018 12:37 PM EST

CHARLOTTE, Mich. -- A father of three victims of Larry Nassar rushed toward and tried to attack the disgraced former sports doctor during a sentencing hearing Friday, after the judge declined his request for "five minutes" alone with Nassar in a locked room. He was quickly tackled by bailiffs.

Two of the man's daughters had just addressed the court, saying they and another sister had been sexually abused by Nassar under the guise of medical treatment. Their father, Randall Margraves, then told Judge Janice Cunningham he was a "distraught father."

He looked at Nassar, shook his head and called him a "son of a b----" while speaking at the courtroom podium. The judge cautioned Margraves against using profanity. He then made a request to the judge.

"I would ask you to, as part of this sentencing, to grant me five minutes in a locked room with this demon," Margraves said to Cunningham. "Would you do that? Yes or no."

"No, sir, I can't do that," the judge said.

"Would you give me one minute?" Margraves asked.

"You know that I can't do that," Cunningham said. "That's not how our legal system--"

The father then lunged at Nassar, who was sitting nearby.

Randall Margraves, left, lunges at Larry Nassar, wearing orange, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor who pleaded guilty in November 2017 to sexual assault charges, during victim statements in his final sentencing hearing in Eaton County Circuit Court in Charlotte, Michigan, Feb. 2, 2018.
Reuters/Rebecca Cook

Crying could be heard in the courtroom as Nassar was escorted out.

Hours later, while Margraves was making a court appearance, Cunningham said a punishment for him wasn't appropriate based on the crimes committed by Nassar and the anguish felt by families. But she also said it's wrong to "combat assault with assault."

Margraves apologized to the court and the officers who restrained him. He said he "lost control" and was embarrassed by his actions.

"I'm not here to upstage my daughters," he said. "I'm here to help them heal."

An Eaton County sheriff's deputy protects Larry Nassar, wearing orange, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor who pleaded guilty in November 2017 to sexual assault charges, as he is attacked by Randall Margraves, not pictured, during victim statements in his final sentencing hearing in Eaton County Circuit Court in Charlotte, Michigan, Feb. 2, 2018.
Reuters/Rebecca Cook

Immediately following the incident, Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis told families in the courtroom to "use your words," not violence.

"This is letting him have this power over us," she said. "We cannot behave like this. I understand this is a remarkable situation. But you cannot do this. This is not helping your children. This is not helping your community. This is not helping us."

The incident occurred during the third and final sentencing hearing for Nassar on sexual abuse charges. The charges in this case focus on his work with Twistars, an elite Michigan gymnastics club. The hearing resumed after about 25 minutes.

Eaton County sheriff's deputies restrain Randall Margraves after he lunged at Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor who pleaded guilty in November 2017 to sexual assault charges, during victim statements in his final sentencing hearing in Eaton County Circuit Court in Charlotte, Michigan, Feb. 2, 2018.
Reuters/Rebecca Cook

More than 30 victims have given statements so far. During a similar hearing that ended last week, more than 150 girls and women came forward to say Nassar abused them under the guise of medical treatment.

More victims are expected to speak. The proceedings are likely to extend into next week.

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