Man Charged With Stealing Marilyn Monroe Statue In Hollywood

LOS ANGELES -- A Glendale man has been charged with grand theft and vandalism for allegedly stealing a statue of Marilyn Monroe from its perch atop the Ladies of Hollywood Gazebo on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Austin Mikel Clay, 25, the same man who used a pick ax to vandalize President Donald Trump's Walk of Fame star, was arraigned Tuesday in a downtown courtroom on one felony count each of grand theft of property valued at more than $950 and vandalism causing over $400 in damage.

Clay, who was on felony probation for damaging Trump's star last summer, was arrested Friday afternoon. Police conducted a search of his home and found evidence that linked him to the theft of the statue, LAPD Detective Douglas Oldfield told NBC4.

Clay was charged with felony vandalism in connection with the of Trump's star on the evening of July 25, 2018. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced in November to one day in jail, three years of formal probation and 20 days of community service.

The evidence did not include the statue, which was sawed off the top of the gazebo at Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue about 11:30 p.m. on June 16.

A motive for the crime was not disclosed.

The statue is owned by the city of Los Angeles.

City News Service contributed to this report.