Man charged after destroying Donald Trump’s Walk of Fame star with sledgehammer
A man who publicly smashed President-elect Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star with a sledgehammer and pickax has been charged with vandalism.
James Otis, 52, faces one felony count of vandalism for causing more than $400 in damage to the star, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Otis, who talked to The Times about his actions, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in downtown Los Angeles.
The Oct. 26 attack, which was caught on video, shows Otis hacking away at the pavement and bronze medallions.
Clad in a hard hat and construction vest, the Beverly Hills resident said he spent weeks planning the “nonviolent action.”
He even spent a couple of nights near the star, assessing the area in the Hollywood and Highland complex.
Otis said he had disdain for Trump and his attitude toward women.
“I just sort of had enough with Mr. Trump’s aggressive language toward women and his behavior, his sexual violence with women and against women,” Otis said. “I’ve had personally in my own family four people who have been assaulted or have had sexual violence happen to them. It all became very personal.”
Trump has called such accusations false.
After smashing the star, Otis removed the center TV emblem, some letters of Trump’s name and a small piece of the star. He kept the brass pieces.
Otis said he planned to auction them off and raise money for women who accused Trump of assault as well as a college organization working to end sexual violence on campuses.
Los Angeles police estimated the damage at $2,500. Otis has said he would “gladly pay the damages to the site.”
A day after the attack, police arrested Otis. The arrest came hours before Otis planned to hold a news conference announcing he was going to turn himself in to authorities.
If convicted, Otis faces up to three years in jail.
Times staff writer Brittny Mejia contributed to this report.
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
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