Phila. Couple Faces Federal Charges for Liberty Bell Incident
A North Carolina visitor is accused of pushing the historic bell, while his companion is charged with splashing an oily substance on the artifact.
By Vincent Parker ·
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against two visitors accused of physically interacting with and staining the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. The incident took place on May 16, 2026, inside the Liberty Bell Center at Independence National Historic Park. Officials said the pair was visiting the site when they began their actions.
Sean Gerlach, 50, of Fairview, North Carolina, is charged with tampering with property in a National Park and trespassing. According to the criminal complaint, Gerlach jumped over a protective barrier and pushed the bell until it swayed multiple times. Investigators noted that the area he entered was closed to the public and he lacked authorization to be there. Dawn Hawa, also 50 and known as Dawn Benitez, faces a charge of vandalism of property in a National Park.
Surveillance video captured the events. Hawa is accused of flicking an oily substance over the barrier. The liquid struck the bell and remained on the metal surface and surrounding areas, according to investigators. On July 23, FBI agents interviewed Gerlach. He identified himself in the footage and admitted he tried to ring the bell, the complaint states.
If convicted, Gerlach faces a maximum prison sentence of one year. Hawa faces a maximum sentence of six months. The charges stem from the specific physical contact and contamination of the artifact during the May visit.
