The Associated Press reports that actor and alleged hate crime hoax perpetrator, Jussie Smollett, has been indicted on 16 felony counts by an Illinois grand jury regarding a false police report he made in January of this year after claiming he was beat up by two MAGA hat wearing thugs in subzero temperatures in Chicago, IL late one night.
via Associated Press:
The Cook County grand jury indictment filed Thursday says he made a false report about an offense.
The Cook County State’s Attorney charged Smollett on Feb. 20 with one count of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.
Smollett told police in late January that he was physically attacked by two men in downtown Chicago while out getting food from a Subway restaurant at 2 a.m. The actor said the men shouted at him, wrapped a rope around his neck and poured an “unknown substance” on him. Police said Smollett, who is black and gay, told detectives the attackers also yelled he was in “MAGA country,” an apparent reference to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan that some Trump critics have decried as racist and discriminatory.
ABC 7 Chicago reports experts believe he will not face jail time, if the proper plea deal is made,
via ABC 7 Chicago:
The grand jury returned two separate sets of charges. The first set are related to what Smollett told officers about the alleged attack, including that the attackers called him racial and homophobic slurs, struck him with their hands, put a noose around his neck, and poured some sort of chemical substance on him.
The second set of charges are related to the second interview Smollett had with police about the alleged attack later that day.
A charge of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report carries a possible sentence of probation to three years. Smollett already pleaded not guilty to the first disorderly conduct charge. He was taken into custody and posted $100,000 bond to be freed.
Experts believe it is likely he will strike a plea deal and potentially not spend time in prison.