Twenty-four-year-old Austin Mikel Clay of Glendale, California, was charged with felony vandalism earlier this week for destroying President Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last month, Fox News reported.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday that Clay’s expected arraignment is set for August 15 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
His bail was set at a recommended $20,000. If convicted, he faces a maximum three-year jail sentence.
Clay allegedly carried the pickax in a guitar case to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard in the wee hours of July 25, as KNBC-TV reported.
The man then used the tool to destroy the president’s star, including the name plate, according to the Los Angeles Times.
He reportedly left the scene afterward, despite private security officers’ attempts to intervene. He apparently reported his own crime via phone and presented himself at the Beverly Hills Police Department an hour later.
The Los Angeles Police Department later picked him up and took him into custody.
Ever since Donald Trump earned the star in 2007 for producing the Miss America Pageant — and paid for it — vandals have gone after the Trump star on multiple occasions.
Stars on the famous walkway reportedly cost about $30,000, which is paid by the person who nominates the potential designee. The cost is supposed to go toward creation and upkeep of the marker.
The West Hollywood City Council — which does not have the authority to remove the star — unanimously passed a resolution on Monday night calling for the Los Angeles City Council and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to do so, according to CBS Los Angeles’ KCAL television station.
Related: Five Celebs Who Should Be Removed from the Walk of Fame Instead of Trump
West Hollywood’s mayor pro tempore, John D’Amico, initiated the move.
West Hollywood’s municipal officials aren’t exactly known for their Trump-friendly stance. In May, then-Mayor John Duran bestowed a key to the city to porn star Stormy Daniels for being a “brave, courageous woman taking on the biggest bully in America.”
“When critics called for the removal of Bill Cosby’s star from the Walk of Fame amid multiple sexual assault claims, the Hollywood chamber said it does not remove stars over public backlash and cited historical landmark status.”https://t.co/lKy7CfNTtJ
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) August 6, 2018
Hollywood wants to remove Trumps star from the street citing among other things his “treatment of women”, If this is the new criteria, the stars on the Boulevard will be disappearing like Hillary’s emails.
— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) August 7, 2018
And Kevin Spacey’s? Scotland Yard has six active investigations open for him now. And Bill Cosby? Convicted of sexual assault. Their stars are nearby. https://t.co/Wllkg1Inr9
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 7, 2018
The problem with purges historically is that one political side enjoys them until they can’t stop them. The founders of any revolution usually end up next in line to the guillotine. https://t.co/a3XMUWtW3o
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) August 7, 2018
Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to LifeZette.
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