Man accused of stealing Oscar trophy pleads not guilty

A man accused of stealing Frances McDormand's Oscar statuette following Sunday's ceremony here pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, local media reported.

Terry Bryant pleaded not guilty to felony grand theft during his arraignment in the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles and was released on his own recognizance over the objection of prosecutors.

Frances McDormand

The 47-year-old man is due back in a courtroom on March 28 to attend a hearing, local news outlet the City News Service reported.

Prosecutors said Bryant was seen taking McDormand's Oscar statuette on Sunday from the Governors Ball, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' official celebration. McDormand won the Best Actress at the 90th Academy Awards for her role in dark comedy drama film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri."

Witnesses said Bryant, dressed in tuxedo, strutted around at the party, claiming that McDormand's Oscar was his.

"Sup babies, look, my team got this tonight. Who wants to tell me congratulations?" Bryant said in a video posted on Facebook. "This is mine. We got it tonight, baby!"

Bryant was detained near an exit and faces a maximum sentence of three years in county jail if convicted as charged.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)