Jussie Smollett Found Guilty Of Staging 2019 Hate Crime Attack & Lying To Police  

Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett Found Guilty Of Staging 2019 Hate Crime Attack & Lying To Police  

A verdict has finally been reached in Jussie Smollett’s infamous case for allegedly staging an anti-gay and racist attack on himself. 

It looks like after nearly 3-years Jussie Smollett’s ongoing case can finally be put to rest. The 39-year-old actor was convicted today (Dec. 9) on 5 counts (out of 6) of disorderly conduct for his alleged hate crime hoax. The charge is a class 4 felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 3 years.

However, experts have previously expressed that Jussie Smollett probably won’t serve anytime behind bars and instead will likely be placed on probation and ordered to perform community service. In addition to that, there’s huge speculation he’ll also have to pay restitution to Chicago in the amount of $130k, which is the reported amount of money the city spent on investigating the alleged attack.

Jussie Smollett

According to reports, Jussie Smollett received 1 count for each separate time he was charged with lying to Chicago police in the days following the alleged assault. This includes Jan. 29, 2019, which is the initial night Smollett reported that the incident took place. The former ‘Empire’ star did have a small victory during his trial and was acquitted on the 6th count, which was for allegedly lying to a detective a few weeks after he claimed he was attacked. Reports claim that Smollett, who has maintained his innocence this entire time, showed no visible reaction when the jury gave their verdict. 

During closing arguments that took place yesterday (Dec. 8) special prosecutor Dan Webb spoke out against Smollett’s actions and told the jury, 

“Besides being against the law, it is just plain wrong to outright denigrate something as serious as a real hate crime and then make sure it involved words and symbols that have such historical significance in our country.” 

Smollett and his team have yet to speak on his conviction.

Jussie Smollett

As previously reported, back in January 2019, Smollett claimed that while he was walking to a Chicago-based subway at 2 a.m. he was attacked by 2 white men who called him racist and homophobic slurs. According to the actor, his attackers placed a rope around his neck, poured an “unknown substance” on him, and yelled out “This is MAGA country” before they fled the scene. 

However, after an investigation took place, a few holes were found in Smollett’s story and law enforcement accused him of being responsible for the attack. Nigerian brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo eventually came forward and claimed that the assault was fake, as prosecutors speculated, and Smollett paid them to attack him. 

Jussie Smollett, Osundairo Brothers

How do you feel about Jussie Smollett being found guilty? Tell us below! 

(VIA)