HOLLYWOOD HILLS—Austin Mikel Clay, 25, of Glendale was charged on Friday, June 24 for stealing a Marilyn Monroe statue in Hollywood from a public art sculpture on June 16. The statue displayed Monroe from the 1955 film “The Seven Year Itch.”
While investigating the robbery, officers used surveillance footage which displayed the suspect climbing down from the gazebo, grabbing his backpack and leaving the scene. The man later met up with other potential persons of interest.
Clay is facing one felony count both of grand theft of property valued at more than $950 and vandalism worth over $400 in damage in case, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office reported. Clay is accused of climbing the sculpture at Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue and sawing off the statue that topped the artwork. The property is owned by the City of Los Angeles, according to the complaint.
Clay is expected to appear in court on June 25 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. He was was arrested at his home on June 21 and faces a maximum of 3 years in county jail if convicted. His bail is currently set at $45,000.
Clay was arrested and charged for damaging the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of President Donald Trump in 2018 and was placed on felony probation after he pleaded no contest to the charges.
He was sentenced three years probation, one day in county jail and 20 days of community labor in addition paying $9,404.46 to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He was also ordered to attend psychological counseling under the negotiated plea agreement. On July 25, 2018 Clay used a pickaxe to smash the star located on Hollywood Boulevard. The defendant left the scene, but turned himself in to police the following day.
Clay’s role in the theft of the Marilyn Monroe statue is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Hollywood Division.
