Actor Jussie Smollett found guilty of falsely reporting a hate crime against him in 2019
A Chicago jury reached guilty verdicts Thursday on five of six charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of falsely reporting that he was the victim of a disturbing, hate-fueled beating.
The panel weighed six counts of felony disorderly conduct against Smollett for telling police that he was brutally assaulted at 2:45 a.m. Jan. 29, 2019, in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. The offenses are class 4 felonies and could be punishable by up to three years behind bars. But Smollett has a clean criminal record, making any jail time highly unlikely.
Dan Webb, the special prosecutor selected to lead the case, said the sixth charge was an aggravated battery charge. He said after the verdict that he was proud of the jury, characterizing Smollett’s defense as a “completely ridiculous story.”
Smollett’s defense attorney said they will appeal, calling his client “an innocent man.”
