Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 30 months felony probation, which will include 150 days in jail, on Thursday for lying to police about an alleged hate crime in 2019.
Smollett, best known for his role in the TV show “Empire,” was convicted in December of five counts of lying to police about the attack but has maintained throughout his extensive legal battles that it was real.
Smollett faced up to three years in prison for each of the five felony counts. He will spend the first 150 days of his probation in the Cook County jail, starting immediately, Judge James Linn said. He will also have to pay $120,106 restitution to the city of Chicago in addition to the maximum $25,000 fine.
During the sentencing Jussie pleaded with the Judge that he was innocent and that he is not suicidal in the event something happened to him while in jail.
Jussie Smollett after the sentencing: “I am not suicidal. If anything happens to me when I go in there, you must all know that.” pic.twitter.com/xe2wYpQJ4O
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 11, 2022
The judge also denied a motion to reconsider Smollett’s sentence or temporarily stay his jail sentence while his counsel filed an appeal.
The judge sentencing hate crime HOAXER Jussie Smollett is absolutely FLAMING him right now. 🔥🔥🔥
Just GLORIOUS. pic.twitter.com/uAFvmTXS85
— Danny De Urbina (@dannydeurbina) March 11, 2022
COMMENTS