WASHINGTON, July 2 (DC Times Online) — A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted former U.S. Olympian David Hearn on a felony property-destruction charge over alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to court records and a statement from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Pirro said the government will seek to prove that Hearn intentionally damaged the pool and caused more than $1,000 in losses. U.S. Park Police arrested Hearn after the June 19 encounter at the site.
Hearn said he stopped during a bike ride to look at the newly renovated pool and touched a loose blue coating or liner, but did not damage it. “I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool,” he told ABC News.
His lawyer, Norm Eisen, said the defense will challenge the case. “There’s no justification for this. We plan to challenge it vigorously,” Eisen said.
Hearn was scheduled to appear in D.C. court on July 9.
