Federal prosecutors on Friday asked a Washington, D.C., court to dismiss the criminal case against David Hearn, who had been charged with felony destruction of property after authorities alleged he damaged the liner of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June. In a court filing, prosecutors said evidence obtained after the indictment indicated the deterioration was primarily linked to flaws in the contractor's installation and the accelerated construction schedule ahead of events marking the United States' 250th anniversary. Prosecutors said the available evidence no longer supported proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the widespread damage resulted from criminal vandalism.

Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carried a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. A three-time U.S. Olympic canoeist, Hearn acknowledged briefly touching a section of loose liner while inspecting the pool during a bicycle ride but consistently denied damaging government property. Earlier court proceedings also highlighted testimony that portions of the reflecting pool's liner and other infrastructure showed signs of deterioration before the incident that led to Hearn's arrest. The dismissal ends a case that had prompted legal challenges over the grand jury process and the evidence presented by prosecutors.