(CNN) The father of three daughters who were abused by Larry Nassar tried to attack the former doctor in an Eaton County, Michigan, courtroom Friday before he was tackled and detained by security.
Randall Margraves said he was a "distraught father" and cursed at Nassar, but Judge Janice Cunningham told him that was not allowed in court.
He then asked the judge for personal time alone with the "demon."
"I would ask you, as part of the sentencing, to grant me five minutes in a locked room with this demon," he asked. "Would you give me one minute?"
The judge declined, saying, "That's not how our legal system works."
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Victims' father attacks Larry Nassar in courtroom
A father whose three daughters were abused by disgraced US gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar has tried to attack him in a Michigan courtroom.
Randall Margraves had to be restrained by three court security officers.
Before rushing to the table where Nassar was sitting, the man had asked to have "five minutes in a locked room with that demon".
Judge Janice Cunningham said she could not allow that.
Mr Margraves then asked the judge for just one minute, to awkward laughter from the courtroom.
The judge repeated her refusal - and shouts and gasps were heard as the furious father bolted towards Nassar, who was present in an orange prison jumpsuit.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Court security staff try to shield Larry Nassar
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Margraves was tackled by three guards
The dramatic intervention brought Nassar's final sentencing hearing on sexual abuse charges to an abrupt halt.
"I want that son of a bitch!" Mr Margraves shouted as he was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed.
"What if this happened to you guys?" he demanded of the officers who escorted him from the courtroom.
Two of the Margraves daughters, Madison and Lauren, had just testified about their abuse at the hands of the doctor.
The incident came as dozens of young women waited for their turn to face Nassar in court.
Mr Margraves later came back to the courtroom to apologise for his actions, and was told he would not face charges.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Madison Rae Margraves gives her victim impact statement, alongside her parents and sister Lauren
Nassar, a former US Olympic gymnastics team doctor, was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison a week ago after testimony from nearly 160 of his victims.
In handing down that sentence, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar: "Sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again."
The 54-year-old was already serving 60 years in prison for possession of child sex abuse images.
Gymnasts and Olympic gold medallists Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber were among those the doctor molested.
Other victims were taken to be treated by him at Michigan State University (MSU), where he worked as a sports doctor between 1997 and 2016.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Defence lawyer Shannon Smith explains what it was like to represent Larry Nassar
The entire board of directors for USA Gymnastics agreed to resign in the wake of Nassar's earlier sentencing on 24 January. The president and athletic director of MSU also stood down.
At his current sentencing hearing this week, Judge Cunningham said the number of known victims had grown to 265.
On Thursday, Michigan police offered a public apology to a woman whose complaint against the child abuser was ignored in 2004.
Brianne Randall-Gay was 17 years old when she reported Nassar, but police closed the case after he said he was using a medical technique.
Despite the disruption, Friday's sentencing hearing continued after a short break.
Judge Janice Cunningham called the situation "scary", but added: "I recognise that Mr Margraves had three daughters that he has had to watch go through the pain and the hurt. I can't imagine what it is like for a parent."
The distraught father was later brought before the judge in handcuffs, and apologised to everyone in the courtroom, saying he was "embarrassed".
"I'm not here to upstage my daughters, I'm here to help them heal," he said.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Randall Margraves apologised for his outburst, a lawyer by his side
He explained that he had not known in advance what his children were going to say.
"I got to hear that, and I got to see Larry Nassar over here shaking his head 'no,' like it didn't happen," Mr Margraves said.
The judge accepted his apology, and confirmed he will not face contempt of court charges.
"There is no way that this court is going to issue any type of punishment, given the circumstances of this case," Judge Cunningham said.
"My heart does go out to you and your family for what has happened to you."
Gymnastics Father of Larry Nassar victims lunges at disgraced doctor in court Randall Margraves asks for ‘five minutes alone’ with sexual abuser jailed for up to 175 years Play Video 1:24 Larry Nassar: victim's father attempts attack in court – video
The judge in the gymnastics sexual abuse case said on Friday there is “no way” she will punish the father of three girls who were his victims, after the man tried to attack the former US gymnastics team doctor in court on Friday.
Randall Margrave, the father of three daughters sexually abused by disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar, was nevertheless told by the judge that his actions were wrong, and Margrave apologized at Nassar’s sentencing hearing in Michigan.
On Friday morning, after two of Margraves’ daughters had just given evidence, the father asked Judge Janice Cunningham for time alone with the former doctor.
“I would ask you as part of the sentencing to grant me five minutes in a locked room with this demon,” said Margraves, who has a third daughter said also to have been abused while under Nassar’s care.
When the judge declined, Margraves shook his head at Nassar and called him a “son of a bitch”. As some in the courtroom laughed, the judge warned Margraves about his language. He then lunged at the doctor.
Bailiffs quickly wrestled Margraves to the ground, knocking objects off a desk in the struggle. Nassar was subsequently led out the room, while crying was heard in the courtroom.
As officers removed Margraves, he repeatedly demanded “one minute!” and asked: “What if this happened to you guys?”
A few hours later, Margraves apologized for his behavior. Cunningham then responded that there was “no way” she would punish him for his rush on Nassar.
She added that a punishment isn’t appropriate based on the crimes committed by Nassar and the anguish felt by families. But she also told those attending it is wrong to “combat assault with assault”.
Nassar had already been sentenced to up to 175 years in jail at a separate hearing last week, and to 60 years for possession of child abuse images in 2017. This week’s hearing focused on Nassar’s conduct at the Twistars gymnastics club in Michigan.
More than 30 victims have given statements so far. During the hearing which ended last week, more than 150 girls and women came forward to say Nassar abused them under the guise of medical treatment.
On Friday, a doctor who specializes in gynecology told the court that Nassar molested her at age 11 at a camp for elite gymnasts.
Brittney Schumann said she had chosen to identify herself because she couldn’t be an advocate for women’s health by staying anonymous. She told Nassar, a former sports doctor, that he was a “disgrace” to the medical profession.
'I was molested by Dr Larry Nassar': how the gymnastics sexual abuse scandal unfolded Read more
After Margraves was removed, the lead prosecutor, Angela Povilaitis, told the public gallery: “I understand Mr Margraves’ frustration, but you cannot do this.” She urged families to “use your words”.
“This is letting him have this power over us,” she said. “We cannot behave like this. I understand this is a remarkable situation. But you cannot do this. This is not helping your children. This is not helping your community. This is not helping us.”
The judge said that although she could not imagine Margraves’ pain, “we cannot react by using physical violence”.
Margraves later apologized, telling the judge, “I lost control. I apologize 100 times.”
On Thursday, one of Nassar’s attorneys, Shannon Smith, cast doubt on the number of athletes her client is alleged to have abused. Cunningham opened Friday’s session by describing Smith’s comments as “unfortunate”.
