A MAN accused of stealing Frances McDormand’s Oscar statuette following the March 4 ceremony pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

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.

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 March 4 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 the dark comedy drama “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

Witnesses said Bryant, dressed in a 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!”  (Xinhua)