EAST LANSING, Mich. (WWJ) -- A judge has ordered former Michigan State University president Lou Anna Simon bound over for trial on charges that she lied to investigators about what she knew regarding allegations against Larry Nassar.
Simon is facing two felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of lying to police. Police and prosecutors have alleged that Simon lied about the extent of her knowledge regarding the allegations against Nassar -- who was convicted as a serial molester in 2017 -- during an interview last year.
During the interview with police in 2018, Simon said she did not learn the nature of the allegations against Nassar until 2016, but authorities allege she was told during a 2014 meeting with Title IX coordinator Paulette Granberry-Russell that he was accused of sexual assault.
Simon could face up to four years in prison if convicted of the felony charges.
Eaton County Judge Julie Reincke wrote the opinion Monday, ordering Simon to go to trial. Simon's legal team says the decision will be appealed.
Mayer Morganroth, an attorney for Simon, tells WWJ there is no evidence that Simon knew in 2014.
"They already destroyed her life, what more do they want?" Morganroth said to WWJ.
Amanda Thomashow, whose report of Nassar's abuse helped bring the story to light, responded to Morganroth's comment on Twitter, saying "Ah yes, blaming the victims. Classic MSU messaging."
Kaylee Lorincz, a Nassar victim, says she wants to see Simon held accountable.
"I really hope that accountability that we've been looking for and that people within the institution who knew are not going to get away with the things that they knew and they are going to be held accountable just like everyone else has been," Lorincz told WWJ.
The order for Simon to stand trial comes as MSU Board of Trustees member Nancy Schlichting resigned Monday, saying she no longer wants to serve on a board that won't conduct an independent review in the Nassar case.