Olympian Pleads Not Guilty in DC Reflecting Pool Vandalism

Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn entered a plea of not guilty on May 14, 2024, to charges stemming from an incident involving the reflecting pool at the Donald Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. Hearn is accused of defacing the property during its renovation. The specific charges filed against Hearn include one count of vandalism and one count of defacing private property. According to court documents, the incident occurred on April 27, 2024. Hearn, who represented Canada in the 2016 Rio Olympics in canoe slalom, was arrested on May 13, 2024, after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department. The reflecting pool in question is part of the hotel's amenities and was undergoing renovations at the time of the alleged incident. The court has set a trial date for Hearn for August 19, 2024. His legal team stated that Hearn intends to vigorously defend himself against these allegations. The Metropolitan Police Department has not released further details regarding the nature of the alleged vandalism or the extent of the damage to the reflecting pool. The case is being handled by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.