Man Waives Preliminary Hearing in Theft of Oscars

John Willie Harris, a South Los Angeles man who was charged in connection with the theft of Oscar statuettes last year, waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday, opting instead to go straight to trial.

Harris, 54, who was arrested in October, is the brother of Willie Fulgear, a 61-year-old junk salvage man who was hailed as a hero after he said he found 52 of the 55 stolen statues in a Koreatown trash bin near his home shortly after they were reported missing. Fulgear received a $50,000 reward and a seat at the Academy Awards ceremony days later.

Harris, one of three men charged in the incident, faces one count each of receiving stolen property and accessory after the fact to grand theft. Last fall, police said that the statuettes had been in Harris’ residence before they were recovered by Fulgear.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Mark Chomel said Tuesday that this case “can easily reach a resolution in court.” He said that waiving the preliminary hearing will make that conclusion come more quickly.

Chomel also said that police are continuing to investigate any connection between Harris and his brother in regard to the incident. Harris’ next court appearance will be Jan. 23.

The statuettes disappeared from a Roadway Transportation Co. loading dock in Bell shortly after they arrived from Chicago, days before the March ceremony. Two Roadway employees were arrested on suspicion of grand theft after the statues were recovered.

Lawrence Ledent, 38, a former Roadway truck driver, pleaded no contest in June to grand theft and began serving a six-month jail term in December. He was also sentenced to five years’ probation and was ordered to pay $51,000--$50,000 to reimburse Roadway for posting the reward money and $1,000, the value of the three gold-plated Oscars still missing.

Anthony Hart, a Roadway dock worker who was charged last August with one count of grand theft, pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 17.