The family of Jussie Smollett are speaking out.
12.03.2022 - 19:15 / foxnews.com
The twists, turns and oddities of the legal saga surrounding Jussie Smollett’s claim in 2019 that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago culminated Thursday with his sentencing. It follows a trial in December that concluded with a jury convicting Smollett on five counts of disorderly conduct. Smollett was acquitted on a sixth count.
On Thursday, a judge sentenced the former "Empire" actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. Cook County Judge James Linn sentenced Smollett to 30 months of felony probation, including 150 days in the county jail. Linn denied a request to suspend Smollett’s sentence and ordered he be placed in custody immediately.
Smollett was also ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago. Initial charges brought in February 2019 that accused Smollett of faking the assault were soon after tossed. But in February 2020, after a special prosecutor looked into the case, a new six-count indictment was filed.
Here’s a look at the charges Cook County jurors considered: WHAT WERE THE CHARGES AGAINST SMOLLETT? The 39-year-old was charged under Illinois’ disorderly conduct statute, which encompasses a wide range of offenses, from making prank 911 calls to placing harassing calls as a debt collector. He faced six counts of disorderly conduct under a subsection of the law that prohibits false reports to police. Some states don’t categorize false police reports as disorderly conduct.
The charges were listed as class 4 felonies, which are among the least serious felonies in Illinois. But convictions can still carry potential prison time of up to three years. Although Smollett was found guilty of five of the
.The family of Jussie Smollett are speaking out.
The family of Jussie Smollett are speaking out.
CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett walked out of a Chicago jail after serving six days and walked into months, if not years, of uncertainty — from what's next for his career as an actor and performer to whether he'll eventually be back behind bars.The former star of the TV show “Empire" was sentenced last week to 150 days in jail plus probation and a fine after a jury found him guilty of lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago in 2019. His release late Wednesday came hours after an appellate court ordered he could go free during the appeal process, which wouldn't be completed before Smollett had served his full sentence.Smollett, who is Black and gay, has maintained his innocence.
What's next for Jussie Smollett after his release from jail on Wednesday? Several legal experts gave their opinions in interviews with Fox News Digital. Smollett was granted a release on bond from the Cook County Jail in Illinois pending the appeal of his conviction.
CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett was released from jail following six nights behind bars after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be free pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.The former “Empire” actor walked out of the Cook County Jail on Wednesday surrounded by security. He did not comment as he got into an awaiting SUV, but his attorneys said Smollett, who is Black and gay, was the target of a racist justice system and people playing politics.The appeals court ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police.
Things in this legal matter just took an unexpected turn…
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAn appeals court ordered former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett released from jail on Wednesday, just seven days into a 150-day sentence for faking a hate crime.In a 2-1 ruling, the justices ordered Smollett released pending the appeal of his conviction, on the condition that he post a $150,000 bond.Smollett was sentenced to serve five months in the Cook County jail, after being convicted at trial in December of five counts of disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony. Smollett was found guilty of staging a hate attack, in which he claimed to have been assaulted by two men who yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him and put a noose around his neck in January 2019.Smollett was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago, for the cost of paying overtime to officers who investigated the purported attack.
After less than a week behind bars on a 150-day sentence for faking a hate crime, Jussie Smollett will be walking out of the Cook County Jail today.
Jussie Smollett will be released from jail after only six days. Per court documents obtained by HollywoodLife, Jussie will be able to walk free after he posts a $150,000 bond.. The actor, 39, was initially sentenced to 150 days (approximately five months) at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois. The news comes amid reports that he been fasting for several days due to Lent, which began on March 3. He’s also made moves to appeal to his sentencing.
Jussie Smollett has been moved from a psych ward and into a jail cell with a bed, according to his brother, Jocqui Smollett. Jocqui took to his brother's official Instagram account early Tuesday with a video message to the former "Empire" actor's supporters with a "day five update." "So I just got to see him. Just want to give y'all an update on his status.Thank you so much for the support, all the hashtag #FreeJussie, it's working.
Jussie Smollett has been placed in the psychiatric ward at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois. According to Jocqui Smollett, Jussie’s brother, he was moved to the pysch ward due to "being at risk of self-harm". Jocqui went on to add in an Instagram video shared on Saturday that this is "very concerning" to him. Jussie Smollett has been placed in the psychiatric ward at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois.
Chicago’s top prosecutor, state’s attorney Kim Foxx, says the justice system failed disgraced actor Jussie Smollett, who was sentenced to 150 days in jail for staging a hate hoax crime.
Jussie Smollett began a 150-day jail sentence for staging a hate crime against himself in protective custody, separated from other detainees and watched by security cameras and an officer, jail authorities said Friday. Sheriff's deputies immediately took Smollett to the Cook County Jail Thursday night after Judge James Linn sentenced the Black and gay actor to 30 months of felony probation, starting with a five-month term in jail, for lying to police that he had been the target of a racist and homophobic attack.
The Osundairo brothers are speaking out following Jussie Smollett’s sentencing for faking a 2019 hate crime and lying to law enforcement. Bola Osundairo, who had taken the stand as a prosecution witness in the Smollett trial, detailed the brothers’ alleged involvement in how the hoax had been carried out.
CHICAGO -- A judge sentenced Jussie Smollett to 150 days in jail, branding the Black and gay actor a narcissistic charlatan for staging a hate crime against himself to grab the limelight while the nation struggled with wrenching issues of racial injustice. Smollett responded by defiantly maintaining his innocence and suggesting he could be killed in jail.The sentence and Smollett’s post-hearing outburst capped an hourslong hearing Thursday and more than three years of legal drama following Smollett's claim that he had been the target of a racist and homophobic attack.Smollett didn't make a statement when offered the opportunity before the judge announced the sentence, saying he was listening to his attorneys' advice.
Empire star guilty on five counts of felony disorderly conduct for making fraudulent reports to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault in January of 2019. The 39-year-old Smollet was accused of staging the hate crime and charged, though he continued to plead his innocence throughout the trial.Speaking for more than 30 minutes before announcing Smollett’s sentence, Cook County Judge James Linn noted that the actor’s premeditation for the act was an “aggravating factor” in the case.“There’s a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness and narcissism that’s just disgraceful,” said Linn.
the former Empire actor was found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct pertaining to a police report he filed on January 29, 2019 – the same day the alleged attack took place.Smollett’s lawyer Nenye Uche said at the time that he would appeal the conviction, adding that his client was “committed to clearing his name”.While handing Smollett his sentence in a Chicago court yesterday (March 10), Cook County Judge James Linn said: “Let me tell you, Mr Smollett, that there is nothing I can do here today that will come close to the damage that you have already done to your own life.“You’ve turned your life upside down by your misconduct and your shenanigans.”He added: “You took some scabs off some healing wounds, and for one reason: You wanted to make yourself more famous, and for a while it worked. The lights were on you.
Jussie Smollett (Pic: Shutterstock.com)
Jussie Smollett learned his fate Thursday after a judge delivered the terms of his sentence following a contentious four hours in a Chicago courtroom. Mere minutes after being ordered into custody to begin serving 150 days in jail, the actor addressed the court one last time – despite the fact he said prior to having his sentence read that he had nothing to say. The former "Empire" star, 39, stood up and affirmed his innocence in a passionate declaration to Cook County Judge James Linn, saying, "I'm not suicidal." "I respect you, your honor," Smollett said as he placed his hands together in a gesture toward the bench.
Hollywood couple Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson were among those to offer support for Jussie Smollett ahead of his sentencing on Thursday. Letters from Jackson, his wife, an organizer with Black Lives Matter, and Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition were among those read Thursday in the Chicago courtroom, where Cook County Judge James Linn ultimately sentenced Smollett to 150 days in jail for lying to police in what authorities said was a staged hate crime. "It is with the respect of knowing this, that I humbly implore you to please find an alternative to incarceration for Jussie Smollett," Jackson and Richard wrote in the Feb.