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Nassar sentenced same day as Baltimore Child Abuse Center celebrates 30 years

Posted at 11:12 PM, Jan 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-25 07:07:49-05

An eruption of applause after a judge handed Larry Nassar a 175-year sentence on Wednesday.

The former Olympic Gymnastics team doctor will spend the rest of his life in prison for sexually assaulting more than 150 young athletes.

On the same night, a celebration for the people who fight sexual abuse in Baltimore.

The Baltimore Child Abuse Center helped over 1300 victims this year.

For 30 years BCAC has helped thousands of children navigate through their traumatic experiences.

Adam Rosenburg, The Executive Director of BCAC said 1 in 10 children is a victim of some form of abuse by their 18th birthday.

"This is that me too moment there,” said Rosenburg. “There are children everyday being impacted by abuse and violence and someone needs to listen and respond and help that kid get better again."

The center helps children find their voice with 24-hour crisis care.

"We have medical providers on staff we have therapists, we have family advocates to help a child navigate the journey that comes ahead,” said Rosenburg.

Rosenburg said that most of the time victims know their abuser, as was the case with Nassar.

"90 percent of abuse occurs from someone the child knows,” said Rosenburg. “This isn't stranger danger, this is about people who gain the trust of a child and then abuse that trust."

With so many bad guys out there, good people need to step up.

"It takes a community of heroes to keep kids safe. We need people to be a hero, report abuse and to believe a child and to keep a kid safe.”

The number one sign a child may be a victim of abuse-- a change in behavior.

To learn more about BCAC click here.