Jussie Smollett shouts he’s ‘innocent,’ ‘not suicidal’ after being sentenced to jail

Editor’s observe: In case you or somebody you recognize is having ideas of suicide, please contact the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Actor Jussie Smollett loudly declared himself “harmless” in a Chicago courtroom Thursday after he was sentenced to 150 days in jail for mendacity to police in a staged hate crime.

Smollett was sentenced by Prepare dinner County Choose James Linn to 30 months of felony probation and 150 days within the county jail. Linn ordered Smollett to be instantly positioned in custody.

“I’m harmless. I might have stated I used to be responsible a very long time in the past,” Smollett yelled as sheriff’s deputies led him out of the courtroom following his sentencing for mendacity in regards to the 2019 racist and homophobic assault, which he orchestrated himself. 

JUSSIE SMOLLETT REPORTED ATTACK: TIMELINE OF EVENTS

“I am not suicidal!” Smollett additionally screamed as he was taken into custody.

The previous “Empire” actor was sentenced after his attorneys learn aloud letters from Progressive teams that requested for mercy for Smollett. 

These pushing for leniency within the case included an organizer with Black Lives Matter, Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition, in addition to LaTanya and Samuel L. Jackson.

They urged the decide to contemplate how the case had impacted Smollett’s life, and profession and hoped Smollett would keep away from any confinement as a part of his sentence.

Different supporters claimed that Smollett, who’s Black and homosexual, could be in danger in jail. They talked about his race, sexual orientation, and his household’s Jewish heritage.

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Smollett was convicted in December of staging the hate crime and mendacity to cops. He was discovered responsible on 5 out of six costs at his hate crime hoax trial and confronted a most sentence of three years in jail for every of his 5 felony conviction counts.

Actor Jussie Smollett seems at his sentencing listening to on the Leighton Legal Courtroom Constructing, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago.
(Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune by way of AP, Pool)

Previous to his sentencing, particular prosecutor Dan Webb requested Linn to incorporate “an applicable quantity of jail time.”

Webb additionally requested that Smollett be ordered to pay $130,000 in restitution to town of Chicago. Smollett was finally ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution.

Choose James Linn speaks throughout a sentencing listening to for actor Jussie Smollett on the Leighton Legal Courtroom Constructing, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Chicago.
((Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune by way of AP, Pool)by way of AP, Pool))

Smollett was charged with six counts of disorderly conduct associated to false statements to Chicago cops a few 2019 hate crime in opposition to him. In 2019, he claimed that two males attacked him attributable to his pores and skin coloration and sexual orientation.

“I do consider on the finish of the day that Mr. Smollett obtained a good trial,” Linn stated Thursday. 

The Related Press contributed to this report.