Former “Empire” star Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months felony probation for lying to police about being a victim of a hate crime. He has also been ordered to pay nearly $130K restitution and a fine of 25K.
After the judge handed down the sentencing, Jussie yelled out in the courtroom that he was not suicidal, so if something happens to him while in jail he did not do it himself.
During the hearing, the actor’s attorney argued for a new trial or reversed conviction claiming that Smollett’s rights were violated in a number of instances including the fact that he had already made an agreement with the Cook County State Attorney in March 2019 that he would not be prosecuted. His attorney also argued that there were “legal errors” leading up to the trial.
After an hour of back-n-forth at Thursday’s hearing, the defense’s motion was denied.
Prior to the sentencing the judge also heard character-witness testimonies from Smollett’s supporters including Rich Daniels, Musical Director of City Lights Orchestra; Sharon Gelman, Former Executive Director, Artists for a New South Africa; and Joel Smollett Jr., Jussie Smollett’s older brother. The actor’s 92-year-old grandmother also took the stand during the hearing in support of her grandson.
Smollett was found guilty in December on five counts of felony disorderly conduct for making false reports about what he claimed was a homophobic and racist hate crime. In January 2019, Smollett told Chicago police two unknown men attacked him, yelled racial and homophobic slurs as well as doused him in bleach, and hung a noose around his neck as he walked from a Subway sandwich shop.
Notable names rallied around the actor after news broke and the Chicago police launched an investigation to identify the attackers. It was later determined that Smollett orchestrated the incident and paid brother Bola and Ola Osundairo, who he knew from the “Empire” set, to stage the attack.
Smollett maintained his innocence throughout the trial and after sentencing.
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