WASHINGTON, July 2 (DC Times Online) — A federal grand jury in Washington indicted former U.S. Olympian and canoeist David Hearn on a felony property-destruction charge tied to alleged damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to court records and a statement from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Pirro said prosecutors allege Hearn pulled up part of the pool liner and caused more than $1,000 in damage. The case is being handled in the District of Columbia.
Hearn has denied damaging the Reflecting Pool. He told ABC News he stopped there during a bike ride to look at the newly renovated surface, touched a loose piece of blue coating or liner and then walked away without harming it. “I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool,” he said.
His lawyer, 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. He also said, “Touching water is not a federal offense.”
Hearn was arrested by U.S. Park Police after the June 19 encounter at the federally managed site, and court records show he was scheduled to appear in D.C. court on July 9.
