Jussie Smollett

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett was released from jail following six nights behind bars after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be free ...

Jussie Smollett was released from jail Wednesday night, hours after an Illinois state appellate court ruled he could go free while his lawyers appeal his ...

He was brought up on new charges a year later after a special prosecutor looked into the case amid national outrage. The actor maintained his innocence during the trial and, in an outburst during his sentencing, told the court that he was in danger of being killed in jail. Smollett did not provide any real proof that he was in danger and used “cursory, woefully undeveloped arguments” to sway the court, Webb wrote in the state’s response to the motion for release.

The appellate court ruled that he be released on bond pending his appeal of a judge's sentence that he serve five months in jail.

Jocqui Smollett said on Tuesday that his brother had been sleeping in a “restraint bed” but had recently been moved to a cell that “actually has a bed.” His family had been arguing on social media that he was the target of “vicious threats” on social media and was at risk. But both prosecutors and Judge Linn had cited Mr. Smollett’s testimony as an aggravating factor that led them to pursue incarceration. Then the police began to question his version of events. “You should be terrified of the precedent this sets.” Prosecutors have argued that those measures were voluntary and not a punishment. - His Sentence: The actorwas sentenced to five months in jailafter pleas for leniencyfrom supporters. He also repeatedly declared his innocence. Analysts say it could take years for the case to come to an end. The actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty in December of falsely reporting that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic assault in 2019. An Illinois appellate court ruled Wednesday that the actor Jussie Smollett be released from jail on bond pending his appeal of his conviction for falsely reporting that he had been the victim of a hate crime. The appellate court ruled that he be released on bond pending his appeal of a judge’s sentence that he serve five months in jail.

Jussie Smollett was released from jail Wednesday night, after an Illinois appeals court granted an emergency motion by his defense attorneys.

"While everyone was focused on the sensationalism surrounding this case, people were not focused on the constitutionality of the prosecution." "Mr. Smollett asserts that he is entitled a stay because he will most likely serve his short, 150-day jail sentence before his appeal on the merits is decided," part of the response read. You're just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime." But, ultimately, the judge said, this act showed Smollett's "dark side." "The judge spent a great deal of time chastising, berating my client," Uche said. And you must all know that." But investigators said they determined the actor orchestrated the attack and paid two brothers he knew "Regardless of what you think about this case ... the real question is, should Black men be walked into jail for a Class 4 felony?" Uche, as well as other attorneys from the team who spoke Wednesday, criticized the judge who sentenced Smollett last week. A personal recognizance bond in Illinois Cook County Judge James Linn spoke to the actor for more than half an hour, criticizing his actions. The judge spoke for more than half an hour during the proceeding, telling the actor that while many people vouched for Smollett and his character and asked the judge for a lenient sentence, Smollett's premeditation in the act he orchestrated was an "aggravating factor" in the case.

Convicted actor Jussie Smollett has been ordered released from jail pending appeal of his 150-day sentence imposed last week for staging a hoax hate crime ...

“If I did this, then it means I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years, and the fears of the LGBT community,” he said. “Your honor, I respect you, and I respect the jury, but I did not do this. Just outside a jail gate, Smollett’s attorneys said they were looking forward to an “intellectual conversation” about whether the actor’s second prosecution was a violation of his rights against double jeopardy. “Ice water, that’s been his food and liquid,” he said. The one-page order issued by the Illinois Appellate Court stated that Smollett was to be released from Cook County Jail after signing a $150,000 recognizance bond, which would not require him to post any money. “We’ve been complaining about the disparate treatment of African Americans in the judicial system,” attorney Nenye Uche said.

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett's attorneys say they're planning to appeal nearly everything that went on in court over the last few months — from the ...

The manhunt for the attackers soon turned into an investigation of Smollett himself and his arrest on charges that he’d orchestrated the attack and lied to police about it. Authorities said Smollett paid two men he knew from work on the TV show “Empire” to stage the attack. Judge James Linn sentenced Smollett last week to 150 days in jail — with good behavior he could have been released in as little as 75 days. The appeals court ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. He also called Judge James Linn's sentence excessive for a low-level felony, adding that the appellate court doesn't “play politics.” He did not comment as he got into an awaiting SUV, but his attorneys said Smollett, who is Black and gay, was the target of a racist justice system and people playing politics.

Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was ordered released from jail Wednesday after a court agreed to stay the sentence a judge handed down last week, ...

A special prosecutor was appointed, and Smollett was indicted in 2020, which led to the conviction and sentence. Linn last week sentenced Smollett to 30 months’ probation, including 150 days in jail. Authorities said he recruited two brothers who worked on the set of "Empire" to stage the attack. Cook County Circuit Judge James Linn excoriated Smollett at sentencing last Thursday and said he fabricated the hate crime to gain attention. Smollett’s attorneys said last week they planned an appeal, but the judge at the sentencing denied their requests to stay the sentence.A jury convicted Smollett in December of five counts of felony disorderly conduct. Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail and probation after he was convicted of falsely reporting to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in 2019.

The ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of ...

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The surprise order followed less than a week after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett to five months in a Chicago jail following his conviction for lying to ...

The brothers testified at trial that Smollett paid them to stage the attack. Cook County sheriff’s officials said in a statement Tuesday that Smollett had been relocated to the new cell after he was first placed in one with a bed that could be outfitted with restraints. The bed was never equipped with restraints,” the department said. Smollett’s family and legal team sought his release in an emergency motion filed after he was whisked out of his sentencing hearing last Thursday and booked into custody. “[Smollett] paid a $10,000 fine and did community service. Speaking outside the jail, Uche said his client was stunned by the decision.