Prosecutors move to dismiss Reflecting Pool vandalism case, saying 'botched installation' to blame
Federal prosecutors are dropping a vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn regarding damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. New evidence suggests the damage was caused by a botched installation by a contractor rather than intentional destruction.
Why it matters
This case illustrates the potential for government overreach in criminal accusations and the importance of thorough forensic investigation before indictment.
Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn, saying instead that damage to the pool was "the result of botched installation and not vandalism."
Earlier this month, Hearn, 67, pleaded not guilty to a single count of destruction of property causing more than $1,000 in damage to the pool. Hearn has repeatedly said that he simply touched the water in the pool out of curiosity last month. But the government alleged he had ripped a piece of sealant at the bottom of the reflecting pool after it had undergone a $14 million renovation.
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