Former Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn, 67, has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of property destruction after allegedly damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. Hearn was charged last week with deliberately causing damage to the pool. The plea came on Thursday, according to reports from multiple news outlets.
The case stems from an incident involving the reflecting pool, which had undergone recent renovations. No details regarding the extent of the damage or the specific actions Hearn is accused of taking have been released beyond the charge itself. Newsmax reported that Hearn denied the vandalism allegations during the court proceedings.
While the sources do not detail a motive for the alleged act, the charges indicate authorities believe the damage was intentional. The Guardian noted the case arose following claims of vandalism made by former President Donald Trump, though it is unclear if those claims directly led to the investigation or charge. No right-leaning outlets reported on the connection between Trump's allegations and the current charges.
The destruction of property charge is a felony, meaning Hearn could face significant penalties if convicted. The next steps in the legal process were not detailed in available reporting, leaving unresolved how the case will proceed from here.
Read the original coverage
💬 Comments
📜 Comment Policy