Former President of Michigan State University, Lou Anna K. Simon, was Charged on Tuesday of lying to the police about the sexual abuse investigation in the former Gymnastics coach and MSU of EE. UU Larry Nassar.
Simon, who resigned earlier this year, was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors in Eaton County, Michigan, according to the Lansing state newspaper. If convicted, he could spend up to four years in prison.
In May, researchers asked the former MSU president if she knew of any research on Nassar before 2016. At that time, Simon said he knew that a sports medicine doctor had been the subject of a Title IX investigation in 2014 But he said he did not know the identity of the doctor. However, according to court documents, Simon supposedly knew that the doctor in question was Nassar.
In addition, the indictment documents accuse Simon of lying to investigators about his knowledge of the nature of the 2014 sexual abuse investigation, reports The Associated Press.
Simon resigned amid harsh criticism from Nassar's survivors and supporters that she did not do enough to prevent Nassar from abusing hundreds of MSU athletes on the pretext of medical treatment. Because Simon resigned and was not fired, she continues to receive an annual salary and a large amount of benefits.
MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant said in a statement on Tuesday that Simon's pay would be suspended during this time.
"We are aware of the charges filed today against former President Lou Anna K. Simon," Guerrant said. "She is taking an immediate license, without pay, to focus on her legal situation."
Simon's attorney, Lee Silver, responded to the charges in a statement to HuffPost.
"I have not seen any evidence to support these charges that I believe are completely unfounded," he said. "We are confident that when we have a day in court, Dr. Simon will be exonerated and it will be proven that these charges have no merit whatsoever."
Simon is now the fourth person involved in the Nassar scandal who faces criminal charges. Former USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny, former MSU gymnastics coach Kathie Klages and MSU's former dean of osteopathic medicine and former Nassar chief William Strampel face criminal charges related to covering up Nassar's abuse .
Nassar is accused of sexually abusing hundreds of young athletes under the guise of medical treatment. He was sentenced to three concurrent prison sentences during the past year on charges of child pornography and child sexual abuse. Nassar has appealed all three of his sentences, but those appeals have been denied.
Simon is scheduled to be arraigned in the Eaton County Courthouse on November 26 at 10:30 a.m.
This article has been updated to include the comment of Simon's attorney.
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