David Hearn, the former Olympian indicted on charges of felony destruction of property for allegedly vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.  Hearn’s attorneys maintained he was not guilty of destruction of property of $1,000 or more, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in DC, and described Hearn as an “upstanding citizen.” Hearn, a canoeist who represented the US in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Summer Olympic games, was arrested by US Park Police on June 19 for allegedly pulling on the lining. Judge Carmen McLean agreed to release Hearn without any orders to stay away from the Reflecting Pool.  US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro announced the indictment last week, alleging that Hearn “willfully” ripped a piece of recently installed sealant on the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. She said Hearn admitted to reaching down into the pool, and she said the National Park Service employees witnessed him “forcefully” and “violently” pulling up the liner with both hands, allegedly damaging two square feet of sealant. Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse in support of Hearn, chanting “Free David Hearn, let him go!” Many of the demonstrators know Hearn personally, and said a person of his character would never maliciously destroy government property.  Photo by Jenna Lee. “I think it’s categorically ridiculous,” said Bill McGrath, who said he’s neighbors with Hearn. He said he has seen Hearn help people in his neighborhood when they lost heat, and he hopes the case gets dropped.  Others said they knew Hearn through his canoeing career. Kathleen McName said she knew Hearn through the paddling community and described the charges as an “injustice.” She said having grown up in DC, she has seen dozens of people touch the Reflecting Pool, and she does not think it is something Hearn should be prosecuted for.  “I wanted to show our support for Davey, that he’s not alone in this,” she said, “and show everybody that there are a lot of people who are really upset about the things that are going on in the country right now.” Hearn walked out of the courthouse following the hearing to cheers from the crowd. Norm Eisen, one of Hearn’s attorneys, said all Americans are at risk if Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool. He said the prosecution was based on a “false and politicized narrative.”  “Every American should be alarmed about this prosecution,” Eisen said. “This indictment reflects the administration’s effort to scapegoat Davey and to shift blame for their own failures.”  The indictment came after President Donald Trump’s administration completed renovations totaling nearly $16 million last month, including a new “American Flag Blue” coating on the bottom of the pool. An algae bloom plagued the pool just days after its reopening, and the coating at the bottom began peeling shortly after. Trump quickly, without evidence, blamed the peeling on the work of vandals.  Legal experts said after the indictment that the case against Hearn was weak, that jurors were unlikely to convict a man for simply touching the Reflecting Pool, and that the prosecution would have a difficult time proving Hearn acted maliciously.  With Hearn’s not guilty plea, the case could potentially go to trial, though the court has not yet set an official trial date. The post Olympian Charged With Vandalizing Reflecting Pool Pleads Not Guilty first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less