Empire star Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report, a felony.
Chicago Police Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi just tweeted, “Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report. Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest.”
Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report. Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest. pic.twitter.com/LvBSYE2kVj
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 21, 2019
Misdemeanor punishment can result in a sentence ranging from probation to a year or two in county jail. However, felony punishment can also result in probation, but a much higher prison sentence, from two to ten years if found guilty.
Earlier today the openly gay actor, 36, was officially named a suspect in his own alleged assault case.
On Jan. 29 Smollett captured the attention of the nation by claiming he was attacked by two men who shouted racial and homophobic slurs and referenced “MAGA.”
Since that initial report on Jan. 29, the investigation took many twists and turns, with varying degrees of cooperation from Smollett.
This is all very sad and disheartening for the Empire cast and crew, the Chicago production community and the many supporters, nationwide including President Trump, who came out and stood by Smollett. This latest twist has even disheartened our own bullish publisher, Barbara Roche.
If proven guilty, this will put a cap on a very strange Black History Month.
