The man accused of stealing actress Frances McDormand’s Oscar said through his lawyer that he won’t sit back and take the allegations without a fight.
While attorney Daniel Brookman acknowledged his client, Terry Bryant can be seen on video clutching McDormand’s Best Actress trophy, he said it doesn’t amount to felony theft charges. He told the Associated Press he and Bryant plan to “forcefully and aggressively resist” the accusations.
“There’s a big difference between holding an Oscar and what he’s charged with,” Brookman said outside court Wednesday, March 7 where Bryant was arraigned pleaded not guilty. “I don’t think his character matches these charges.”
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Deborah Brazil ruled the 47-year-old, who had no prior felony convictions related to theft and had failed to show up to court, didn’t pose a public risk and that he’ll be released without bail on his own recognizance. Bryant has gone six years without contact with law enforcement.
Bryant got McDormand’s statue while attending the Governor’s Ball Sunday, March 4, which follows the Oscars. The “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” star had her trophy engraved there, as is usually the case for winners. Security was dispatched when the Oscar came up missing and the actress was reunited with the trophy hours later.
Still, Bryant was arrested and held on $20,000 bail after he walked out with the statue saying, “All right baby boys and baby girls.”
He also videoed himself posing with the trophy and broadcast it on Facebook Live, telling others he won it for best producer.
“Look it, I got this, it’s mine!” he exclaims in the clip that led authorities to him and ultimately arrest him.
A photographer stopped Bryant when he left the formal bash.
Yet at his arraignment, his rabbi, Naomi Levy said, “He’s a sweet and gentle man of faith.”
https://youtu.be/YwheMe_565A?t=11s
