Millionaire who smashed up Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star charged with vandalism and facing fine of thousands of dollars
THE millionaire who took a pick axe to Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been charged with vandalism and could face a fine of thousands of dollars.
It was announced on Thursday James Otis would be appearing in court on Friday after the activist and heir confessed to smashing up the flagstone which had been laid in honour of the President-Elect in LA.
It was three weeks ago he set out to deliberately destroy the £24,000 ($30,000 US) tourist attraction in Los Angeles, with a pick axe and sledgehammer, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed he was facing a fine of at least $400 dollars in damages.
However this could run into thousands depending on the decision made in court.
Otis, who is the heir to the the heir to the Otis Elevator Company fortune had his early morning stunt captured on camera.
At the time he admitted his actions and said: “I admitted my mistakes and am now dealing with my consequences, unlike Mr. Trump, who has never admitted what he’s done.
“And that’s why I destroyed the star; I broke the law.”
Otis, 52, spoke to reporters after he was released from jail on £16,000 ($20,000 US) bail, and told them he carried out his act of vandalism in support of the women who had accused Trump of sexual assault.
He said: "He's a serial liar and misogynist and that's why we're here: to try to address that and help those women who told Mr. Trump they won't stand for it anymore.
Otis could face three years in prison and a £8,000 ($10,000 US) fine if he is convicted.
At his news conference, he said he was taking responsibility for his actions, and felt Trump was dodging his own responsibilities.
Before his arrest he told the : "I just sort of had enough with Mr Trump's aggressive language toward women and his behaviour, his sexual violence with women and against women."
"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."
Otis was referring to the recent accusations against the Republican nominee of sexual assault from a number of women, all of which he has denied.
He said he spent weeks planning the "non-violent" action and even spent a number of nights oin Hollywood to check out the area and assess when he could do it "safely, carefully and successfully."
Otis added it was a "form of free expression", and said he would gladly pay damages.
He destroyed the star with a pick axe around 6am on Wednesday morning.
Video was posted online showing him posing as a workman and smashing the star.
According to Deadline, a man dressed as a city construction worker and wielding a sledgehammer and pick-axe targeted the star on Wednesday morning.
The man told the Hollywood trade magazine he originally intended to remove Mr Trump's star to auction it off to raise funds for women who have accused the Republican candidate of sexually assaulting them.
Mr Trump has vehemently denied the allegations.
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The billionaire tycoon received the 2,327th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2007 for his work on the American version of The Apprentice.
It has been repeatedly vandalised in recent months following his controversial comments about banning Muslims from entering the US and building a wall on the US-Mexico border.
In July, a British artist known as Plastic Jesus installed a mini-wall around Mr Trump's star, topped with razor wire, miniature US flags and Keep Out signs.
A tent was erected over the damaged star, preventing passers-by from viewing it, until workman came to carry out repairs.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman said the force received a report that the star had been vandalised at 6am local time.
Meanwhile, the property tycoon said Hillary Clinton’s plan for Syria will spark World War III because of the potential for clashes with nuclear-armed Russia.
The Republican candidate has also claimed defeating ISIS is a higher priority than persuading Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
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