WASHINGTON, July 2 (DC Times Online) — A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted former U.S. Olympian and canoeist David Hearn on a felony property-destruction charge tied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to court records and a statement from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Hearn was arrested by U.S. Park Police after he stopped at the pool during a bike ride in June, and he has denied damaging the site. He told ABC News that he touched a piece of blue coating or liner and then walked away.
“I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool,” Hearn said.
Pirro said prosecutors would show Hearn intentionally removed sealant from the newly renovated pool and caused more than $1,000 in damage. Hearn’s lawyer, Norm Eisen, said the defense would challenge the case. “There’s no justification for this. We plan to challenge it vigorously,” he told The Hill.
Court records show Hearn was scheduled to appear in federal court in Washington on July 9.
