US actor Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for faking racist attack
JUSSIE Smollett maintained his innocence as a judge sentenced the 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. Mr Linn denied a request to suspend Smollett’s sentence.
Smollett was also ordered to pay $120,106 (£91,281) in restitution to the city of Chicago.
Smollett declared his innocence after the sentence. “I am innocent – I could have said I am guilty a long time ago,” he shouted as deputies led him out of the courtroom on Thursday.
Mr Linn excoriated Smollett before delivering sentence and said he was astounded by his actions, given the actor’s multiracial background and history working on behalf of social justice organisations.
“For you now to sit here, convicted of hoaxing hate crimes – the hypocrisy is just astounding,” Mr Linn said.
Smollett’s defence attorney had asked for community service. He said Smollett “has lost nearly everything” in his career and finances and asked that he be given time to make restitution.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, who was called by the state, said in a statement, the actor’s false report of a hate crime harmed “actual victims” of such crimes.
He asked that the city be compensated, saying the cost of investigating his claims could have been spent elsewhere.
Smollett’s grandmother, testifying for the defence, asked Mr Linn not to include prison time in his sentence.
“I ask you, judge, not to send him to prison,” Molly Smollett, 92, said in court, adding: “If you do, send me along with him, okay?”
Smollett’s brother, Joel Smollett Jr, told the court that Smollett is “not a threat to the people of Illinois. In my humble opinion he is completely innocent”.
Smollett’s attorneys also read out letters from supporters, including an organiser with Black Lives Matter, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and
Samuel L Jackson, that asked for him to be spared prison.
Other supporters spoke about worries Smollett would be at risk in prison, specifically mentioning his race, sexual orientation and Jewish heritage.
Smollett was facing up to three years in prison for each of the five felony counts of disorderly conduct – lying to police. He was acquitted on a sixth count.
The case made headlines when Smollett, who is black and gay, reported to police that two men in ski masks beat him and hurled racist and homophobic slurs on a dark Chicago street and ran off.
In December, Smollett was convicted after two brothers told jurors Smollett paid them to carry out the attack.