Judge Orders Release of Kentucky Woman Charged with Vandalizing WWII Memorial

A federal magistrate judge on Monday ordered the release of a Kentucky woman accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., last week, rejecting a request from prosecutors to keep her in custody. Melissa L. Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was released on conditions that include surrendering her passport, staying outside of Washington except for court appearances, and avoiding the memorial itself.

The release came after Farris was charged with two federal felonies: depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans memorials. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charges stem from an incident on August 13, when the memorial's fountain was filled with soap and graffiti was spray-painted on its stonework. The words "Clean Hands Dirty" were painted in red and green, and the fountain bubbled over with suds. The National Park Service estimated cleanup and restoration costs exceeded $1,000, and the memorial was closed for most of the day.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, criticized the judge's decision and filed a motion urging reconsideration. In court documents,...