Florida gymnast Melanie Sinclair arrested after stolen goods discovered in her apartment

October 14, 3:57 AMGymnastics ExaminerBlythe Lawrence

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University of Florida star gymnast Melanie Sinclair has been arrested for harboring stolen merchandise -- including rifles and shotguns -- in her Gainesville apartment.

Two Florida media sources are reporting that the goods, nine rifles and shotguns, as well as two computers, were stolen in a series of burglaries connected with Sinclair's boyfriend Leonard "Bud" Williams. Williams was arrested on Oct. 1 after carrying a loaded 12-gauge shotgun through the Brandywine Apartment complex near the University. Two others have also been arrested in conjunction with the robberies.

Sinclair, a Family, Youth and Community Services major, was apparently housing the items in a safe installed in her apartment. The 22-year-old, set to compete as as senior at Florida this season, has been charged with grand larceny of firearms, unarled burglary and grand theft of more than $300, The Independent Florida Alligator reported.

Officers became aware of Sinclair's involvement when taped phone records revealed that Williams called her from the jail to tell her to say she did not know about the guns, according to the report. After being read her Miranda rights, Sinclair said she knew something was wrong but didn't know what it was.

According to The Florida Alligator, the safe in Sinclair's apartment was so large it took four police officers to remove it.

From The Gainesville Sun:

Tuesday's arrest of Sinclair occurred after Williams claimed that Sinclair knew the items she was storing in her apartment were stolen. Williams said at one point he even offered Sinclair a pearl necklace he had obtained after cutting open the 2-1/2-foot-tall stolen safe.

Williams also told police that Sinclair knew the long guns were in the apartment and was even "playing" with the guns at one point.

In addition, taped jail phone conversations of Williams had Williams telling Sinclair to tell police that she had only found out about the guns on the night he was arrested, according to an arrest report.

Sinclair, who trained with Shayla Worley under coach Jeff Wood at Orlando Metro before going to Florida, competed at the 2005 American Cup on vault and floor. After a redshirt 2006 season, Sinclair has been Florida's rock, and has scored three perfect 10s on uneven bars during her NCAA gymnastics career.

Florida, which has worked hard to break into the NCAA gymnastics jaggernaut dominated by Georgia and Alabama, has inked some highly impressive recruits for the 2011 season, including current U.S. team members Kytra Hunter, Mackenzie Caquatto and Alaina Johnson.

University of Florida gymnastics coach Rhonda Faehn released a statement saying SInclair has been "suspended indefinitely" from Florida's gymnastics team.

Melanie Sinclair, 2009 Georgia vs. Florida, Floor:

Related: A news report from Florida's WCJB on this story, and Sinclair's NCAA Gymnastics profile at Florida