Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of destruction of property during his arraignment hearing on Thursday in connection with damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Supporters for Hearn gathered outside the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse before and after the hearing, carrying signs that read “Scapegoat for deflecting pool fail: Free Davey” and “Davey’s a champ, not a scamp!”
Norm Eisen, a lawyer for Hearn, told reporters outside the courthouse that if Hearn “can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool, every American is at risk — and every American should be alarmed about this prosecution.”