Recall that back in January 2019, American actor Jussie Smollett, now 39 was hospitalized after he was reportedly injured by two men in what looks like a homophobic attack. This was during the period of his role as Jamal in the musical series Empire which later led him to not being able to continue the series to the latest episode.
The culprits were reportedly two men wearing ski masks that viciously attacked Jussie as he fought back. He suffered a fractured rib, and the attackers put a rope around his neck and poured bleach on him as they yelled, “This is MAGA country.” On apprehension, the Osundairo brothers were named in the alleged attack on Smollett.
The story however took a turn when investigations had it that Smollett had actually staged this attack himself. The trial stemmed from an incident nearly three years ago, in January 2019, when the former Empire television show star told police he was the victim of an attack.
Smollett, who is black and gay, told police he was set upon by two assailants who shouted slurs, yelled a Trump slogan, dumped a "chemical substance" on him, and tied a noose around his neck while he was walking late at night in Chicago.
A recent follow up on the case has it that there was a different story, as he was charged for disorderly conduct charge for a false crime report which is a Class 4 felony and punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
At trial this week, Smollett, 39, stood by denials that he staged the hoax attack against himself.
Prosecutors countered that he "lied for hours" on the stand as he repeated what he told to Chicago police.
However, according to reports gathered by a legal analyst, it was stated that the judge could give the former "Empire" actor probation, but added that Smollett, "exposed himself to jail time," when he testified in court.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for more than nine hours on Wednesday, December 8 - December 9, 2021. Each count carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. Given Smollett's lack of previous convictions, experts have said a lighter sentence or probation is likely. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.