Judge orders Jussie Smollett be released from jail on bond pending his hate crime hoax conviction appeal
Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail
A court ordered the release of Jussie Smollett from jail on bond as the appeal of his conviction is pending.
Smollett was recently sentenced to 150 days in jail after he was convicted of lying to Chicago police about being the victim of a hate crime back in 2019. The "Empire" actor was convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police.
On Wednesday, the appeals court, in a 2-1 decision, said Smollett could be released after posting a personal recognizance bond of $150,000, meaning he doesn't have to put down money but agrees to come to court as required. It was unclear late Wednesday how soon he may be released.
On top of 150 days in jail, Smollett was also given 30 months felony probation, restitution to the city of Chicago in the amount of $120,106 and a fine of $25,000.
Smollett’s attorneys had argued that he would have completed the jail sentence by the time the appeal process was completed and that Smollett could be in danger of physical harm if he remained locked up in Cook County Jail.
Smollett, who is Black and gay, reported to Chicago police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two men wearing ski masks in January 2019. The manhunt for the attackers soon turned into an investigation of Smollett himself and his arrest on charges that he’d orchestrated the attack and lied to police about it.
During his sentencing, Smollett maintained his innocence.
"I did not do this, and I am not suicidal, and if anything happens to me when I go there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that," Smollett said during the sentencing hearing.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/judge-jussie-smollett-released-jail-bond-conviction-hate-crime-hoaxPredicted this long ago, the Juicy Smollett rehab campaign ala Colin Kapernick will eventually happen. And now, we get to watch it play out.
