Former Olympic canoeist indicted after Reflecting Pool incident
A grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted former Olympic canoeist David Hearn on a felony charge of destroying property after he was arrested for reaching into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
A Washington, D.C., grand jury indicted former Olympic canoeist David Hearn on a felony count of destroying property valued over $1,000 after he was arrested last month for reaching into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The indictment alleges Hearn "maliciously did injure, break and destroy certain property, that is, the lining material of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool," a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Hearn's attorney said the former athlete has not yet been briefed on the new indictment, noting that Hearn previously received a citation for a misdemeanor related to the same incident. Hearn told reporters that a National Park Service worker warned him not to touch a flap of blue material that had become detached from the pool's bottom, but he was subsequently handcuffed by park police. He denied any intent to vandalize the pool, saying he was merely curious.
President Donald Trump previously warned that individuals who "vandalized" the pool could face lengthy prison terms and claimed that six people had been arrested and others cited. No other individuals have been publicly identified. The pool's recent multimillion-dollar renovation, completed ahead of Independence Day celebrations, has faced problems with algae growth and peeling sealant since reopening.