Eaton County prosecutor objects to removal of Nassar from state registry

The Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has formally objected to a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that removed more than 20,000 sex offenders, including Larry Nassar, from the state’s public registry. The court ruled in September that forcing offenders to register under newer versions of the law for crimes committed before those laws took effect constitutes an ex post facto punishment.

The decision stems from a lawsuit filed by Eddie Lee Smith, who assaulted a stepdaughter in 1995 and his biological daughter in 2010. The Supreme Court stated on September 9 that requiring registration under the 2021 Sex Offenders Registration Act for pre-2011 offenses violated the U.S. Constitution. Nassar, the former Michigan State University sports doctor convicted in 2017, was among those removed despite being sentenced after the 2011 amendments.

The Eaton County office, which prosecuted Nassar, described the decision as deeply concerning, noting that the registry provided a measure of protection and awareness for the community. While the legislature cannot overturn the high court’s ruling, it may adopt new legislation to return the offenders to the database. Michigan State Police confirmed the removals were completed last month to comply with the ruling.

Read the full story at The Morning Sun.