Brazilian Larry Nassar sentenced to more than a century in prison: Fernando de Carvalho Lopes

Fernando de Carvalho Lopesformer coach of the Brazilian National Team of artistic gymnastics male, was sentenced to 109 years and 8 months in prison by sexually abusing four of his studentsamong them a minor, although he is pointed out by having assaulted more than 40 athletes.

A story similar to that of Larry Nassar, the former doctor of the American Gymnastics Federation (USA Gymnastics) that abused at least 330 young people and was sentenced to life sentence in 2018.

The Americans Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney Y aly raismanall Olympic gold medalists in their specialty, denounced in court the abuse they received from Nassar.

The condemnation of Carvalho-Lopes was released this Tuesday, after the Brazilian media Sport Balloon had access to the process documents, which are protected by judicial secrecy.

Despite the fact that the sentence went to prison in a closed regime, as imposed by a judge of first instance, Carvalho-Lopes can appeal the court's decision court of first instance and, pending resolution of the appeal, remain free.

The first complaint against the former coach was filed in 2016, according to information from Balloon sport. A 13 year old gymnast denounced that he had been subjected to abuse by the technician.

In his testimony before the police, the minor accused Lopes of touching his genitals "frequently". One month before the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games the Brazilian authorities removed his position in the national team.

After the scandal before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiroin 2018 Balloon revealed that 42 gymnasts accused Lopes of having sexually abused them between 1999 and 2016.

One of the starting points of the journalistic investigation was a comment on social networks by one of the victims, Petrix Barbossagold medalist in the Panamerican Games Guadalajara 2011.

Despite more than 40 accusations against LopesThe judge, Fernanda Alves daRocha, It only accepted the complaint of four of the victims for processing and summoned several of the others as witnesses.

Finally, Alves da Rocha he claimed that sentence must be served in a closed prison regime due to the high penalty.

(With information from EFE and The Hobby)