{"id":80641,"date":"2019-03-09T11:48:14","date_gmt":"2019-03-09T16:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/jussie-smollett-indicted-on-16-felony-counts-for-staging-false-hate-crime-watch\/"},"modified":"2019-03-09T11:48:14","modified_gmt":"2019-03-09T16:48:14","slug":"jussie-smollett-indicted-on-16-felony-counts-for-staging-false-hate-crime-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/jussie-smollett-indicted-on-16-felony-counts-for-staging-false-hate-crime-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Jussie Smollett Indicted on 16 Felony Counts for Staging False Hate Crime: WATCH"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jussie Smollett Indicted on 16 Felony Counts for Staging False Hate Crime: WATCH<\/b><\/p>\n

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Empire actor Jussie Smollett was indicted on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct late Thursday. He is set to appear in court on March 14 where he will enter a plea and a judge will be assigned to the case.<\/p>\n

Jussie Smollett Grand Jury \u2026<\/a> by <\/a> on Scribd<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe specific allegations\u2013\u201cfalse report of offense\u201d\u2013 are Class 4 felonies,\u201d CBS Chicago reports<\/a>. \u201cThe indictment expands the case against the actor. The counts focus on allegedly false statements he made to two different Chicago Police officers. Each count covers various alleged acts that Smollett falsely described to the officers\u2013including that he was hit by two men<\/a>, that they yelled racial and homophobic slurs and poured a chemical on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA conviction on any count could lead to a sentence ranging from probation to up to three years in prison,\u201d the Chicago Tribune reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Tribune<\/em> adds<\/a>: \u2018Smollett, who is African-American and openly gay<\/a>, has said he was walking from a Subway sandwich shop to his apartment in the 300 block of East North Water Street around 2 a.m. Jan. 29 when two men<\/a> walked up, yelled racial and homophobic slurs, hit him and wrapped a noose around his neck. Smollett said they also yelled, \u201cThis is MAGA country,\u201d referring to President Donald Trump\u2019s campaign slogan of \u201cMake America Great Again.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n

Watch a report from CBS Chicago on the indictments:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

At a press conference on February 21, Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson reported that Smollett had turned himself in after testimony from two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, who said that Smollett had paid them to stage the attack.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the hoax attack, Johnson said, \u201c\u2018Empire\u2019 actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson said \u201cThis stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary, so he concocted a story about being attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said Johnson: \u201cI\u2019m left hanging my head and asking why. Why would anyone, especially an African-American man<\/a>, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations?\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Johnson: \u201cBogus police reports cause real harm. They do harm to every legitimate victim who\u2019s in need of support by police and investigators.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m also concerned about what this means moving forward for hate crimes,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cMy concern is that hate crimes will now publicly be met with a level of skepticism that previously didn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Jussie Smollett Indicted on 16 Felony Counts for Staging False Hate Crime: WATCH<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad Gay News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Jussie Smollett Indicted on 16 Felony Counts for Staging False Hate Crime: WATCH<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n