WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Kentucky woman is facing two federal felony charges after authorities say she spray-painted the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and poured soap into its fountain before posting videos of the vandalism on social media.
Melissa L. Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged Friday by criminal complaint with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Both charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The charges stem from an incident Thursday, Aug. 13, at the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall.
According to federal prosecutors, U.S. Park Police officers responded after a witness reported seeing a woman spray-painting the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion. The memorial was defaced with the words “Clean Hands Dirty $”, while soap was poured into the nearby fountain, creating a large amount of foam across the memorial’s water feature.
Photos from the scene showed the normally reflective fountain filled with thick white bubbles as authorities worked to secure the area.
Investigators quickly focused on Farris, who also used the name Melissa Lovewell on social media.
Unlike many vandalism investigations, authorities did not have to rely solely on surveillance cameras or witness descriptions to identify a suspect. Farris allegedly documented the act herself.
Videos posted to social media showed Farris spray-painting the memorial and acknowledging that she was responsible. According to reports, Farris described herself as a whistleblower and indicated that she wanted to be arrested in an effort to bring attention to grievances she claimed had not been addressed by the government.
Authorities also said a Park Police officer recognized Farris from an earlier, unrelated arrest for allegedly camping illegally near the memorial. Investigators recovered additional evidence, including paint allegedly matching that used at the memorial.
Farris subsequently turned herself in and was taken into federal custody.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges Friday, describing the vandalism as an attack on a memorial dedicated to Americans who served during World War II.
The National World War II Memorial honors the 16 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the war, including more than 400,000 who died.
The incident also drew condemnation from veterans’ organizations and visitors to the memorial.
Cleanup crews moved quickly following the vandalism, working to remove the paint and clear the soap from the fountain.
Federal authorities estimated the damage and cleanup costs exceeded $1,000, according to reporting on the criminal case.
Farris remains in federal custody as the case moves forward.
The charges contained in a criminal complaint are allegations. Farris is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
