Former USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny arrested after grand jury indictment over Nassar evidence

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Thursday, October 18, 2018
Former USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny arrested
Steve Penny was arrested in Tennessee after being indicted on charges he tampered with evidence related to former team doctor Larry Nassar.

GATLINBURG, Tennessee (KTRK) -- A grand jury in Walker County, Texas handed down an indictment Wednesday for the former president of USA Gymnastics.

Steve Penny is accused of tampering with evidence related to allegations of sexual assault against Dr. Larry Nassar, the team's former doctor.

U.S. Marshals arrested Penny in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. He is now awaiting extradition to Texas.

Photo shows arrest of former USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny
This photo, released by the U.S. Marshals' office, shows the arrest of former USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny in Tennessee.
U.S. Marshals

According to the indictment, Penny ordered the removal of documents from the Karolyi Ranch that were related to Nassar's activities.

The indictment alleges Penny had the documents destroyed or hidden in an effort to impair the investigation by the Texas Rangers and the Walker County Sheriff's Office.

Several sources told authorities the documents were delivered to Penny at USAG headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The records have not been recovered since.

The Texas Rangers say they believe the records are material to their investigation, and that removal of the records hindered their investigation of Nassar.

On Feb. 5, Nassar was sentenced to a third prison term of 40 to 125 years behind bars. He had already been sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in another county, and to a 60-year federal term for child pornography crimes.

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