Federal prosecutors plan to dismiss a felony vandalism charge against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after concluding it resulted from a faulty renovation rather than vandalism. The reversal matters because Hearn had faced up to 10 years in prison and because it contradicts repeated claims that vandals were responsible.

Prosecutors said the pool’s new blue lining began peeling shortly after installation and that contractors rushed work ahead of July 4 America 250 events, with wider damage linked to the renovation. Of seven people arrested, Hearn alone faced a felony charge; his lawyers said the dismissal did not undo what they called an abuse of government power and demanded an apology.