A woman charged with defacing the Washington National Cathedral with green paint is due in court.

Green paint is seen on the pedestal of the statue of Joseph Henry, the first Smithsonian secretary who served from 1846 to 1878, outside the Smithsonian Castle
Green paint is seen on the pedestal of the statue of Joseph Henry, the first Smithsonian secretary who served from 1846 to 1878, outside the Smithsonian Castle (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Jiamei Tian faces a preliminary hearing in D.C. Superior Court on Friday.

The 58-year-old has been charged with damaging two chapels of the cathedral with a soda can of green paint on Monday. A judge ordered her jailed pending her appearance, with prosecutors calling her a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Police and prosecutors also believe she's connected to several acts of similar vandalism, including at the Lincoln Memorial, a church and at a Smithsonian statue.

Authorities haven't revealed a motive. They say Tian has a Chinese passport and that she was traveling in Washington on an expired visa.

The hearing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. before Judge Frederick Sullivan.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

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