The Brief
- Sean Gerlach of North Carolina and Dawn Hawa of Pennsylvania were charged with offenses involving Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Officials say both are accused of actions on May 16 at the Liberty Bell Center, including tampering, trespassing, and vandalism.
- The investigation was led by the FBI and National Park Service, and both defendants face the possibility of prison time if convicted.
PHILADELPHIA – Federal authorities have charged two people. Sean Gerlach, 50, of Fairview, North Carolina, and Dawn Hawa, also known as Dawn Benitez, 50, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, for alleged offenses targeting Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Officials say the charges were filed following an investigation by the FBI and the National Park Service.
Actions at Philadelphia’s historic Liberty Bell Center
What we know:
Federal court documents detail that the Liberty Bell is housed at the Liberty Bell Center within Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia. A barrier surrounds the bell to keep visitors from getting too close during public visiting hours.
Court filings outline that on May 16, Gerlach, Hawa, and others visited the Liberty Bell Center. …