Photo by G. Edward Johnson
WASHINGTON — A three-time U.S. Olympic canoeist from Maryland has been indicted on a felony charge after prosecutors reported he damaged newly installed sealant at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, was indicted July 2, 2026, by a grand jury in D.C. Superior Court on one count of felony destruction of property.
The charge stems from a June 19 incident at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors reported Hearn ripped a piece of recently installed blue pool sealant from the bottom of the reflecting pool.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said the alleged damage followed months of renovation work at parks, monuments and fountains in Washington ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. Pirro said vandalism at the Reflecting Pool and other historic sites “is an affront to our shared history and the dignity of our national heritage.”
Hearn competed for the United States in canoe slalom at three Summer Olympic Games, with Team USA listing his best finish as ninth at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Several national reports state Hearn has denied vandalizing the pool, with his defense arguing he touched or handled a loose section of liner rather than damaging it. Prosecutors allege the act involved felony destruction of property tied to the renovated reflecting pool.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Park Police.
A court hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2026.
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