Former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn faces a felony charge for property destruction related to the Reflecting Pool. The 67-year-old was indicted on a single count in Washington, D.C. court. Hearn maintains he only reached into the pool to examine peeling coating and briefly touched a detached piece after being told to stop by a park worker.

Hearn, who owned a company specializing in composite materials for watercraft, was detained for five hours by National Guard troops and Park Police following the incident. President Trump had characterized the event as vandalism and pointed to multiple arrests, seeking to explain the problematic rollout of the $14 million Reflecting Pool rehabilitation project.

This indictment brings a legal dimension to the controversy surrounding the Reflecting Pool's condition. Hearn's explanation suggests an accidental interaction rather than deliberate damage. The charges, however, proceed as federal authorities seek accountability for the pool's state.

Hearn's prior detention and subsequent indictment underscore the seriousness with which the incident is being treated by officials, despite his account of accidental contact. The case now moves through the legal system.