GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Steve Penny, the former USA Gymnastics president and CEO who resigned in March 2017 amid the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Wednesday.
He is currently being held in Gatlinburg at Sevier County Jail and awaiting extradition to Walker County, Texas.
Walker County, Texas District Attorney David P. Weeks's office stated in a press release that Penny was arrested on a warrant for tampering with evidence, for which he been indicted by a grand jury in late September.
Penny was the president and CEO of USA Gymnastics from April 2005 until March of last year.
His resignation occurred amid the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal that brought forth allegations and testimony from multiple Team USA gymnasts against the now-convicted former national team sports medicine doctor Larry Nassar.
Testifying athletes, including Olympic gold-medal gymnasts, accused USA Gymnastics of ignoring the abuse.
In late September 2018, a Walker County, Texas grand jury convened to continue their ongoing investigation of the Karolyi Ranch and those individuals who may have committed offenses related to the conduct of Dr. Larry Nassar at that location. The grand jury indicted Penny for tampering with evidence in the third degree.
Upon indictment, the 278th Judicial District Court issued a warrant for Penny's arrest. If convicted, the range of punishment is two to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
According to the indictment, Penny is alleged to have tampered with evidence during the investigation of sexual assault allegations against Nassar.
The indictment alleges that Penny ordered that documents be removed from the Karolyi Ranch in Walker County, Texas that were related to the activities of Nassar at the ranch. The indictment further alleges that the removal of the documents was done for the purpose of impairing the ongoing investigation by destroying or hiding the documents.
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