Ex-Olympic Canoeist David Hearn Denies Reflecting Pool Vandalism
Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was indicted by a Washington, D. C. , grand jury on a felony charge of destroying property after he was arrested for reaching into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. CNN reported the indictment, noting the alleged damage occurred during recent renovation work on the pool.
Al Jazeera added that the charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison. Representative Anna Paulina Luna later said the incident should result in community service rather than jail time if Hearn is convicted. In a related development, three other individuals were arraigned on misdemeanor vandalism charges for removing sealant from the Reflecting Pool, according to CNN, and were ordered to stay away from the site. AP News subsequently reported that Hearn entered a not-guilty plea to the felony property-destruction charge.