Judge dismisses Reflecting Pool case against Olympian, bars DOJ from refiling charges

A Washington judge on Thursday dismissed the Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn with prejudice, barring prosecutors from refiling the same charges in the future.

While D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro had previously moved to drop her indictment against Hearn after admitting that damage to the Lincoln Memorial's pool was caused by a "flawed installation," her office had asked a judge to dismiss the case without prejudice.

The order that appeared on Hearn's docket in D.C. Superior Court Thursday morning shows Judge Todd Edelman sided with Hearn's attorneys, who said last month that there is "no valid reason" to keep the case alive.

Hearn's attorneys in a statement later Thursday morning called the dismissal with prejudice "a victory for the rule of law and for an innocent American seeking justice."

"This case never should have been brought in the first place," the statement said. "What happened to Mr. Hearn is an outrage that should shock every American."

This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.