Former Milli Vanilli Pop Star Charged With Attacks, Threats

Robert Pilatus, a member of the disgraced pop group Milli Vanilli, was charged with nine misdemeanor charges Wednesday stemming from attacks and threats he allegedly made against Hollywood residents.

The city attorney’s office filed multiple counts of assault as well as a probation violation against the 31-year-old Pilatus, of North Hollywood, for incidents that occurred Dec. 21 and this past Sunday, said Deputy City Atty. William Sterling.

Pilatus is accused of trying to break into a parked car in the 900 block of South Van Ness Avenue and threatening to kill the owner when he was discovered. The owner knocked Pilatus down with an aluminum baseball bat when he saw him trying to get into the car.

On Dec. 21, Pilatus allegedly struck a man in an apartment on Whitley Avenue several times in the head and face with a metal lamp base after the victim asked him to leave, Sterling said. Pilatus is also accused of telephoning the man the next day and threatening to kill him.

Pilatus has been on probation since October, when he pleaded no contest to one count of auto tampering. He currently faces one count each of battery, auto tampering, attempted trespassing, prowling, threatening a crime victim, assault with a deadly weapon, making a terrorist threat, causing great bodily injury and making a threatening telephone call.

Pilatus and former partner Fabrice Morvan made headlines in 1990, when they were stripped of their Grammy award for best new artist after admitting they didn’t sing a word on their multi-platinum debut album, “Girl You Know It’s True.”