Terry Bryant – who bragged about taking the statuette on Facebook – was charged with felony theft because the bronze award is worth more than $950 and will be arraigned in court on Wednesday (07.03.18).
The DJ was accused of taking the ‘Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri’ star’s Best Actress trophy from the Governors Ball after the ceremony on Sunday (04.03.18) and was arrested on site at the Hollywood & Highland centre at around 11.50pm.
After he picked up the Oscar, Bryant – who also goes by the name DJ Matari – videoed himself gloating about his prize.
In the video, which has now been taken down, he kissed the statue and said: “Lookit baby, my team got this tonight. This is mine. We got it tonight, baby.
“Governors Ball, baby. Who wants to wish me congratulations?
“Who wants to tell me congratulations? This is mine! Where’s the Jimmy Kimmel party at? I can’t believe I got this. It’s for music.”
According to Los Angeles police officer Sgt. Meghan Aguilar, a photographer had stopped Bryant from leaving the party with the award because they did not recognise him as a winner, so followed the DJ – who had a legitimate ticket to the party – and took the statuette from him without any resistance.
The photographer then notified security, who apprehended the man.
Although Frances, 60, had said she didn’t want anyone charged in connection with the theft, the statuette technically still belongs to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which gives winners the right of possession but not ownership.
As a result, the organisation is listed as the victim in the police report.
It is not clear how 47-year-old Bryant received a ticket to the ball but his social media pages show him attending other red carpet events, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and he has been pictured alongside the likes of Beyonce and Paris Hilton.
If convicted, Bryant could be jailed for up to three years.
Frances’ representative previously confirmed she had been reunited with her Oscar.
He said in an email: “Fran and Oscar are happily reunited and are enjoying an In-N-Out Burger together.”
