David Hearn, 67, was indicted by a grand jury in Washington, D.C., for destruction of property related to an incident on June 19, where he allegedly damaged a two-square-foot section of sealant in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. U.S.
Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that Hearn's actions were deliberate and described him as having forcefully removed the liner while being observed by National Park Service employees. Hearn, who claims he was merely touching the liner while cycling, faces a felony charge that could result in a maximum of 10 years in prison.
This case is part of a broader issue, as Pirro mentioned her office is currently reviewing about six other vandalism cases at the Reflecting Pool, indicating a troubling trend of damage to national landmarks that are intended to be preserved for future generations