North Carolina Man and Pennsylvania Woman Charged With Offenses Targeting Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell

PHILADELPHIA - United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Sean Gerlach, 50, of Fairview, North Carolina, and Dawn Hawa, aka Dawn Benitez, 50, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, have each been charged by information with offenses targeting the Liberty Bell.

Gerlach has been charged with tampering with property in a National Park, and trespassing on National Park property. Hawa has been charged with vandalism of property in a National Park.

As detailed in court filings, the Liberty Bell is housed inside the Liberty Bell Center, located within Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia. During visiting hours, the public may visit and view the Liberty Bell, which is surrounded by a barrier to prevent visitors from approaching it too closely.

The information filed against Gerlach alleges that, on or about May 16, 2026, he, Hawa, and others visited the Liberty Bell Center. Gerlach then jumped over the barrier protecting the Liberty Bell and forcefully pushed the Liberty Bell until it swayed several times.

The information filed against Hawa alleges that, during this May 16, 2026, visit to the Liberty Bell Center, she flicked an oily substance over the barrier protecting the Liberty Bell. The substance hit and remained on the Liberty Bell and surrounding areas.

If convicted, Gerlach faces a maximum of one year in prison and Hawa faces a maximum of six months in prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the National Park Service.

The charges and allegations contained in the informations are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.