(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Cook County judge on Thursday sentenced actor-musician Jussie Smollett to 30 months of probation, including a 150-day jail stint, following his conviction on faking a hate crime against himself in January 2019.
A jury in December convicted the former “Empire” co-star of five counts of disorderly conduct. Prosecutors say Smollett staged a bogus battery and claimed assailants had yelled racist and homophobic taunts, put a noose around his neck and splashed him with gasoline. Smollett, 39, is Black and openly gay.
In a lengthy tongue-lashing, Judge James Linn said Smollett did damage to real hate-crime victims with his premeditated actions. He said it’s baffling because of Smollett’s and his family’s long advocacy for social justice.
“The hypocrisy is just astounding. I don’t know where to begin,” said Linn, who called the actor arrogant and narcissistic.
The judge speculated Smollett was seeking additional fame by cooking up the scheme: "You were actually throwing a national pity party for yourself."
Linn sentenced Smollett to 30 months of probation, but ordered him to serve the first 150 days in the Cook County Jail. In addition, the judge ordered the actor to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago and also a $25,000 fine.
Smollett insisted he is innocent and declared, "I am not suicidal," in case he ends up dying behind bars.
The sentence handed down Thursday came after a presentation by defense attorney Tina Glandian, who argued Smollett should receive a new trial based on what she called errors in the Chicago police investigation and subsequent trial.
Judge Linn denied the request. He said all of the issues raised by the defense had been vetted. "We've talked about this for two years," he said.
Witnesses who spoke on behalf of Smollett at the sentencing hearing included Richard Daniels, music director for “Empire,” who said Smollett gave his time to community causes as the show was filmed in Chicago. The actor’s grandmother, Molly Smollett, who called him a “justice warrior,” and Smollett’s older brother, Joel, said harsh punishment wouldn't fit the low-level felony for which the performer was convicted.
Smollett's trial was handled by a special prosecutor after the Cook County State’s Attorney's Office quietly and controversially dropped charges against the actor. The special prosecutor revived the charges and went to trial.
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