Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Pair Charged After Man Allegedly Pushed the Liberty Bell to Ring It

Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia have charged two visitors who, they say, targeted the Liberty Bell during a May trip to the Liberty Bell Center. United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the charges on Monday, November 2. Sean Gerlach, 50, of Fairview, North Carolina, is charged with tampering with property in a national park and trespassing on national park property. Dawn Hawa, 50, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, who also uses the name Dawn Benitez, is charged with vandalism of property in a national park. Both were charged by information, and neither is a Philadelphia resident.

What prosecutors say happened in May

The Liberty Bell hangs inside the Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. Visitors can view the bell during visiting hours, and a barrier keeps the public from getting too close to it. Prosecutors say Gerlach, Hawa and others visited the center on or about May 16, 2026. The information filed against Gerlach alleges that he jumped over the barrier protecting the bell and forcefully pushed the Liberty Bell until it swayed several times. Metcalf said Gerlach's actions were caught on surveillance cameras, PhillyVoice reported.

During the same visit, prosecutors allege, Hawa flicked an oily substance over the barrier protecting the bell. The substance hit the Liberty Bell and remained on the bell and on the surrounding areas, according to the court filing. A spokesperson for Metcalf's office declined to comment about what the substance was, citing the active status of the case, PhillyVoice reported.

A July interview with the FBI

The case did not become public in May. According to an affidavit cited by PhillyVoice, FBI investigators interviewed Gerlach in July. During that interview he identified himself in the security footage and admitted that he "tried to ring the Liberty Bell." The case was investigated by the FBI and the National Park Service, the United States Attorney's office said. The charges were announced on November 2, close to six months after the May 16 visit and months after the July interview.

What the charges carry

If convicted, Gerlach faces a maximum of one year in prison. Hawa faces a maximum of six months in prison. Those are the maximum sentences the United States Attorney's office listed for the counts each defendant faces. The charges and the allegations in the informations are merely accusations, the office said, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors have not announced a court outcome in the case.