Trump's Hollywood Star Destruction: Man Pleads Not Guilty

HOLLYWOOD, CA — A man accused of vandalizing Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame twice in the same month pleaded not guilty to felony vandalism charges Monday.

James Lambert Otis was charged with two counts of vandalism with $400 or more in damage. Previously, Otis pleaded no contest to felony vandalism for destroying Trump's same star in October 2016. In that instance, he was sentenced to three years of probation, 20 days of community service and forced to pay a $4,400 fine.

According to police, Otis defaced the star with a pickaxe on October 2, causing more than $3,000 worth of damage. Otis later surrendered to LAPD and was freed on bond, only to be arrested again on October 30 after police said he destroyed the star yet again.

Otis, 55, told City News Service in 2016 that his original plan was to remove Trump's entire star, then auction it off in New York on election day and give the proceeds to women who alleged they were groped or sexually mistreated by Trump, who has denied the allegations.

However, Otis said he could not remove the entire star because the "stone was like marble" and it would have taken too long. Instead, he smashed the star with a sledgehammer and pickaxe, removing Trump's name and the television logo.

Asked then about the prospect of arrest, he said, "I'm not frightened of jail and I'm certainly not frightened of Mr. Trump. What punishment I get is fine."

Rana Ghadban, President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, expressed her disappointment after the star was defaced in 2020.

"When people are angry with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark," Ghadban told TMZ. "Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a real difference by voting and not destroying public property."