A father of three survivors abused by convicted molester Larry Nassar rushed the former doctor in court on Friday, causing a scene as court bailiffs tackled and arrested the parent and witnesses cried.
According to footage from the incident, the father, Randall Margraves, asked Judge Janice Cunningham for “five minutes in a locked room with this demon.” Two of the Margraves sisters read their impact statements in court on Friday, and one had read her statement at Nassar’s previous sentencing hearing last week.
In the footage, slight chuckles can be heard off camera as Margraves made his plea.
“Would you do that? Yes or no? Would you give me one minute?” Margraves attempted to negotiate as Cunningham denied his request, with one of his daughters whispering, “stop,” between his questioning.
As Cunningham continued to explain her denial, Margraves said a phrase that sounded like, “Well I’m gonna have it,” before rushing Nassar. Court bailiffs ran after him, tackling him just as he approached a desk across the room, and instructed him to stop resisting as he yelled, “I want that son of a bitch. Give me one minute with that bastard.”
After the bailiffs handcuffed Margraves and stood him up, he looked around and asked, “What if this happened to you guys?”
While Margraves was walked out of the room, Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis asked parents not to behave like Margraves, saying it gave Nassar power.
After he was removed from court, Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis addressed the court: "I don't want to see another parents get arrested or put handcuffs on, or a victim." pic.twitter.com/tLagjBpewR
— Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) February 2, 2018
Judge Cunningham, too, addressed the incident once court reconvened, telling the courtroom to resist using physical violence and let the criminal justice system run its course.
Judge Cunningham: "Obviously what just happened in the courtroom was scary." Cunningham told galley: "I'm sorry you had to experience it." Said her own heart began to race and her legs became shaky.
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) February 2, 2018
Judge Cunningham said "I can't imagine what it is like as a parent." "However, these are legal proceedings and the criminal justice system is doing what it's supposed to do."
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) February 2, 2018
Judge Cunningham: "We can't be using physical violence and assault against someone who has done criminal acts. What Mr. Nassar did was horrible, unthinkable, but please let the criminal justice system do what it's supposed to do."
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) February 2, 2018
Nassar is currently in court for his third and final sentencing hearing for child pornography and sexual abuse charges, with 65 girls and women once again giving their impact statements.
Last week, more than 150 accusers delivered their statements, including Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman and, having her statement read aloud to Nassar, McKayla Maroney. Nassar has so far received 60 years for child pornography and 40 to 175 years for sexual abuse.
Watch the video of Margraves rushing Nassar below:
VIDEO: Father of sexual abuse victims charges Larry Nassar in court during sentencing https://t.co/nWIcuHpUbs pic.twitter.com/hmyCYDQTLF
— Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) February 2, 2018
Update 2pm CT, Feb. 2: Margraves will not face charges for his courtroom outburst, Global News reports.
“Just for the record, you need to know that I can give you a jail sentence. I could fine you up to $7,500,” the judge said at a special hearing directly after Margraves lunged at Nassar. “I don’t want to do that. I don’t know what it would be like to stand there as a father and know three of your girls were injured physically and emotionally sitting in a courtroom. I can’t fathom that.”
However, she did say, “you have to understand this is a courtroom and where we enforce the rule of law. I cannot tolerate or condone vigilantism.”
Margraves apologized, replying, “I am embarrassed. I didn’t come here to upstage my daughters.”