David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, has been indicted by a grand jury in Washington, DC, Superior Court after his arrest last month at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The new charge marks a more serious step in a case that began with a citation and now carries the possibility of a prison sentence.
The indictment accuses Hearn of one count of destruction of property worth more than $1,000. If convicted, the felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
| Case Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | David Hearn |
| Charge | Destruction of property with a value of more than $1,000 |
| Possible Penalty | Up to 10 years in prison |
| Property Named in Indictment | The lining material of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool |
According to the indictment, a DC grand jury found that Hearn “maliciously did injure, break and destroy certain property, that is, the lining material of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.” His attorney said he was not yet aware of the latest development because Hearn had previously received only a citation, which was a lesser misdemeanor set of charges.
Hearn previously told CNN that police arrested him after he touched a flap of blue material that had partially detached from the bottom of the pool. He said a National Park Service worker warned him not to reach into the water before Park Police handcuffed him.
Hearn denied vandalizing the pool and said he was simply curious. The Reflecting Pool had reopened last month following President Donald Trump’s multimillion-dollar renovation, and Hearn said he did not intend to damage it.
Trump later warned that people he said had “vandalized” the pool could face lengthy prison sentences, and he said six people were arrested and several others cited. None of the others have been publicly identified.
The renovation was expected to be completed ahead of this weekend’s Independence Day festivities, but the pool soon drew attention for problems involving algae and peeling paint or sealant after it reopened. Trump also said someone had carved a lengthy gash into the pool with a sharp instrument, though the federal government has not provided proof of those claims.
The story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.
