In October 2016, video showed 53-year-old James Lambert Otis using a jackhammer and a sledgehammer to destroy the star. Deadline reported that he was given three years of formal probation and 20 days of community work and ordered to pay $3,700 to the Hollywood Historic Trust and $700 to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
In July 2018, another man, 24-year-old Austin Mikel Clay, took a pickax to the star. He was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to attend counseling, do community service and pay more than $9,4000 to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, according to The Associated Press.
Credit: Vince Bucci
Credit: Vince Bucci
The West Hollywood City Council unanimously passed a resolution in August to urge the Chamber of Commerce to permanently remove the star. Despite being defaced and vandalized numerous times, the organization has routinely said it will not remove the star as the walk is a designated historical landmark.
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