Feds Block Effort to Erase Vandalism Charge Against Anchorage Vet

Sophie Dennison-Gibby is fighting federal prosecutors to remove a vandalism charge from her permanent record. The Justice Department dismissed the case months ago after evidence showed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s liner failed due to construction errors. Dennison-Gibby, a veterinarian, wants the charge fully expunged so it no longer appears on her file. Her lawyers filed a request with the court to make the record disappear completely.

Federal prosecutors are now opposing that request. They argue that dismissing a case is not the same as finding a defendant innocent. Timothy Lauer, a spokesperson for the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office, stated that erasing the record without proof of innocence would undermine the justice system. At a hearing on Friday, a prosecutor said Dennison-Gibby bears the burden of proving she did not commit the crime. A judge ordered a hearing on the matter and agreed to unseal the case records.

The incident occurred on June 20 when Dennison-Gibby visited the pool. She saw what looked like trash floating in the water and reached in to retrieve it. The object turned out to be a piece of plastic liner that had peeled from the pool basin. An officer arrested her on the spot. She was handcuffed and taken to a U.S. Park Police facility before being released that same day. Prosecutors later charged her with a misdemeanor count of destruction of property.

Dennison-Gibby described the experience as absurd and upsetting. She said it felt like she was being labeled a vandal despite the truth. "When the dismissal came we thought it was going to be relatively straightforward," she said. The case was one of several brought against people accused of damaging the landmark. Olympian David Hearn also faced a felony indictment in the same series of charges. President Donald Trump called for jail time for the defendants and described the perpetrators as sick people.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro dropped the cases after receiving Interior Department documents. Those documents indicated the damage resulted from a rushed and botched installation of the new liner. A filing from the Justice Department noted it was difficult to attribute the widespread damage to vandalism. A Washington Post analysis found application flaws likely caused the peeling paint. An inspection report identified at least 85 places where the liner buckled, blistered, or cracked. The report documented 22 defects near where Dennison-Gibby stood during her arrest.

Attorney Jamison Koehler argued the government’s evidence did not suggest Dennison-Gibby committed a crime. He pointed out that prosecutors had already conceded the liner showed signs of damage from contractor error. "I think the evidence shows she just picked it up from the water of the pool," he said. Another lawyer, Sonya Pfeiffer, explained that sealing the record is not enough. Sealing keeps the file accessible for employment and licensing decisions. Dennison-Gibby needs expungement to protect her ability to renew her veterinary licenses.

The legal fight has isolated Dennison-Gibby from friends and public life. She avoids social media and struggles to sleep. She is concerned about how the case affects her 10-year-old daughter. "Here we are again," she said. "I’m going to have to let her know there’s still more going on." Judge Todd E. Edelman said he is open to granting expungement but wants clarity on why sealing the file would not suffice. The court is currently reviewing the parties’ arguments.