Rep. Luna urges lenient sentence for Olympic canoeist charged in reflecting pool case

Representative Anna Paulina Luna said the penalty for Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who faces a felony charge for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, should be limited to community service if he is found guilty. Luna told reporters that a few hours of service would be a more appropriate punishment than incarceration. She recounted a personal anecdote about being reprimanded for writing her name in fresh concrete as a child, which required her to perform extra work at her church, and suggested Hearn receive a comparable consequence, noting his adult age might warrant a slightly stricter measure. Hearn has denied removing paint from the pool, maintaining he only touched the surface. Luna questioned the basis for the indictment, citing the presence of multiple surveillance cameras in the area.

"A judge wouldn't indict him with no evidence, especially given the number of cameras," Luna said.