JUSSIE Smollett’s jury resumed deliberations on December 9, 2021, in his trial on allegations that he staged a fake attack on himself and then lied to Chicago police about being the victim of an anti-gay, racial hate crime.
Today the former Empire actor will be sentenced for the accusations brought against him.
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When is Jussie Smollett being sentenced?
It was announced on January 27, 2022, that Jussie Smollett would be sentenced on March 10, 2022, according to ABC News.
On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the prosecution and the defense presented their closing arguments. The case was presented to the jury soon before 2.45pm.
One juror had to depart earlier because of a prior commitment, and the judge dismissed the remaining jurors for the day just after 5.00pm, finishing their first day of deliberations without reaching a decision.
They resumed deliberating at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 9.15am on Thursday.
Smollett may face up to three years in jail if convicted of felony disorderly conduct in connection with a false police report.
On December 9, 2021 Smollett was found guilty of staging a fake racist attack against himself.
He was found guilty on five of six counts during Thursdays verdict.
The sixth count he was found not guilty of was making a false police report that he was a victim of an aggravated battery.
The jury came to a decision after about nine hours of deliberations.
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What are the charges brought against Smollett?
Smollett, 39, has been charged with disorderly conduct under Illinois’ statute, which covers a wide range of offenses from making fake 911 calls to harassing debt collectors.
Under a part of the statute that forbids fraudulent police complaints, he faces six counts of disorderly conduct.
The allegations are classified as Class 4 felonies, which are among Illinois’ least serious offenses. Convictions, however, can result in up to three years in prison.
Each count of disorderly conduct corresponds to a time between Jan. 29, 2019, and Feb. 14, 2019, in which Smollett allegedly lied to police, according to ABC News.
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Did Smollett lie on the stands?
On Monday, Smollett denied that he staged the attack, testifying that “there was no hoax” and that he did experience a hate crime in January 2019.
Smollett remained composed throughout his lengthy testimony, claiming that the $3,500 check that he wrote for Abimbola Osundairo was meant to be used for nutrition and fitness instruction.
When asked by his defense attorney if he ever paid Osundairo to stage the attack, Smollett replied, “Never.”
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