Bethesda Man Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charge in Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Liner Incident

David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a felony count of property destruction at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He entered the plea through one of his attorneys during an initial appearance before D.C. Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean.

The judge released Hearn on a personal recognizance bond without court supervision while he awaits trial and set a status hearing for August 5. Hearn was indicted last week on the single felony count alleging more than $1,000 in damage to the pool's new liner. U.S.

Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated prosecutors had tremendous evidence that Hearn forcefully and violently pulled up and removed the bottom liner and acted aggressively toward an employee who intervened. Hearn was arrested by U.S. Park Police on June 19 after stopping during a 64-mile bike ride.

Hearn told The Washington Post he did not vandalize, destroy, break, or peel anything from the pool. He said he touched a loose piece of the peeling blue coating to satisfy his curiosity as a citizen and obeyed orders to let go when instructed by a park worker.

His attorneys, Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, described the government's evidence as weak and said the charges reflect a narrative concocted by prosecutors.

Hearn is one of four people charged in connection with damage to the pool. Sophie Elaine Dennison-Gibby, Justin Toribio Carreno, and Cameron Michael Thiers each face misdemeanor destruction of public property valued at less than $1,000 and pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Wednesday. Dozens of supporters gathered outside the courthouse and chanted "Davey" as Hearn left the hearing.

The Reflecting Pool underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation completed before the country's 250th independence celebrations. The project installed an American flag blue liner at a reported cost of $14 million to $16 million and has since faced algae blooms and peeling coating.