3 arrested at Grammys for using stolen passes

Three people were arrested at the Grammy Awards after they tried to breach security at the star-studded event using stolen passes that gave them access to all areas, authorities said today.

The theft of nine highly coveted identification passes was discovered when one of the alleged thieves, identified as Sebastian Bonner, tried to enter Staples Center shortly before 4 p.m. using one of the passes reserved for a female guest, police said. One of the stolen passes belonged to a security guard.

In questioning Bonner, Los Angeles police and FBI agents learned that nine credentials had gone missing the day before the awards ceremony, police said.

Cmdr. Andrew Smith said the motive for the theft apparently was a desire to rub shoulders with celebrities, and not terrorism.

“We eliminated that this wasn’t something more serious than some people who wanted to see the Grammys who are star-struck,” Smith said. “We immediately notified all the police, private security and security checkers to be on the alert for people with the particular stolen credentials.”

Smith said the Grammys, like most major events since the 2001 terrorists attacks, goes to great lengths to control entry, and uses photo IDs. Gate-crashers at major events were once common. But today, Smith said, security is tight and breaches are considered criminal.

Three people – Bonner, 20, of Murrieta; Courtney Mitchell, 30, of Los Angeles, and Pamela Clay, 44, of Los Angeles – were arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property after being found with someone else’s event ID card.

“Basically here we had one individual who sold a bunch of IDs to his friends and acquaintances,” Smith said

Bonner, police said, was seen in an office where the identifications were held before the ceremony.

Authorities recovered four of the stolen credentials. Another was found near Bonner as he was interviewed by the FBI. A 10th credential was also stolen before the event during a street robbery, police said.

“You can face serious criminal penalties for passing stolen credentials or manufacturing or falsifying them for these events,” Vernon said.

richard.winton@latimes.com