WASHINGTON, July 2 (DC Times Online) — A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., has indicted former U.S. Olympian and canoeist David Hearn on a felony property-destruction charge after prosecutors said he damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to court records and statements from the U.S. attorney’s office.
Hearn has denied vandalizing the pool. In interviews with ABC News and the Associated Press, as relayed by ESPN and ABC Australia, he said he stopped during a bike ride to look at the newly renovated surface, touched a loose blue liner or coating, and then walked away.
U.S. Park Police arrested Hearn after the June 19 encounter at the Reflecting Pool, according to the reports. Hearn told ABC News that he did not damage, tear, peel or destroy any part of the pool and said he was not immediately told the charges he faced.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the government believes Hearn intentionally removed sealant from the pool and caused more than $1,000 in damage, according to published accounts. Pirro said the evidence would show a deliberate act.
Hearn’s attorney, Norm Eisen, said the defense will challenge the case. “There’s no justification for this. We plan to challenge it vigorously,” Eisen told The Hill.
Court records and published reports said Hearn was due to appear in Washington’s federal court on July 9.
