Home / Crime and Justice / Judge Dismisses Charge Against Former Olympian
Judge Dismisses Charge Against Former Olympian
1 Oct
Summary
- Judge permanently dismissed the felony charge with prejudice.
- Prosecutors learned damage was due to installation, not Hearn.
- Judge cited government's own conclusion that no crime occurred.
Former US Olympian David Hearn will not face further prosecution for alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. On October 1, 2026, D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman dismissed the felony charge "with prejudice," permanently barring prosecutors from refiling it.
The case began in June when Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist, was accused of destroying government property after stopping at the pool during a bike ride. Hearn maintained he only touched a loose piece of peeling coating.
However, federal prosecutors received information from the Interior Department indicating the damage stemmed from a rushed installation of the pool's new lining. This led prosecutors to seek dropping the charge.
Judge Edelman's decision noted the government's own conclusion that the prosecution lacked merit, as no crime had occurred. This ruling ensures the possibility of further legal action is permanently closed for Hearn.
