Jussie Smollett Released From Jail After 6 Days
Jussie Smollett has been released from jail after serving just six days of his 150-day sentence. The Empire alum was able to post bail of $150,000 according to the court order obtained by E! News.
The actor’s lawyer is filing an appeal on his case, but the outlet reports, “the appellate court said their decision may not be completed until after the duration of Jussie’s sentence, leading them to grant his ‘stay’ or pause in jail time.”
If the appeal is denied, Smollett will have to serve the 150-day sentence.
After his release, Smollett did not speak to reporters but the actor’s lawyer, Nenye Uche said, “We’ve been complaining about the disparate treatment of African Americans in the judicial system regardless of what you think about this case. Some people might think Mr. Smollett is guilty. I disagree,” Uche, told reporters after Smollett’s release per the outlet. “But a real question is should Black men be locked into jail for a class four felony. Shame on you if you think they should. That’s a disgrace. It’s wrong.”
Beyond the 150 days in county jail, the actor was also sentenced to 30 months of felony probation and ordered to pay about $120,000 in restitution to the city and a fine of $25,000.
Jussie Smollett was found guilty on five of the six charges of disorderly conduct for making a false report to Chicago police that he was the victim of a hate crime in December of 2021. Jurors found the Empire actor guilty of 5 of the 6 felony counts against him.
The first five counts were for filing a false report to authorities on Jan. 29, 2019. The sixth, which he was acquitted of, was from a was for a separate interview two weeks later with Chicago PD on Feb. 14 when he told a detective he was a victim of aggravated burglary per The New York Times.
