LOS ANGELES — A Glendale man pleaded no contest Wednesday to a felony count of vandalism for smashing President Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a pickaxe in July.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kerry Bensinger immediately sentenced Austin Mikel Clay, 24, to 20 days community labor and three years probation, along with ordering him to attend psychological counseling and to pay more than $9,400 in restitution to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, according to Paul Eakins of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Clay was given credit for one day he had served in jail after his arrest early July 25.
Clay used a pickaxe to smash Trump’s star early that morning, but subsequently surrendered at Beverly Hills police headquarters.
It was the second time Trump’s star was vandalized in less than two years. In October 2016 a man dressed as a construction worker smashed the star with a pickaxe and sledgehammer. James Otis pleaded no contest to felony vandalism in February 2017 and was sentenced to three years probation, 20 days of community service and agreed to pay $4,400 for the damage.
Following the vandalism, the CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the Walk of Fame, urged would-be vandals to vote if they wanted to make a political statement.
“The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an institution celebrating the positive contributions of the inductees,” said president and CEO Leron Gubler. “When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark. Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property.”
Source: Orange County Register
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