Jussie Smollett believes race played a part in jail sentence

Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to five months behind bars for staging a hate crime in Chicago, and reportedly believes his race was a figuring out think about his sentencing.

The actor, 39, finest identified for his function on Fox drama “Empire” instructed his protection crew earlier than sentencing that he anticipated jail time and believed he’d be handled extra harshly for the non-violent offense than others convicted of comparable crimes because of the colour of his pores and skin, sources told TMZ.

For Smollett, it’s additional proof of systemic racism within the judicial system.

He reportedly instructed his crew he was “lifeless on” in predicting the result, calling it “unlucky” and “unhappy.”

Choose James Linn sentenced Smollett to 30 months of probation, the primary 5 of which he should spend within the Prepare dinner County jail, and ordered him to pay town of Chicago $120,000 in restitution and a $25,000 nice after he was discovered responsible on 5 counts of felony disorderly conduct following his eight-day trial late final 12 months.

Whereas Smollett declined to talk earlier than his sentence was handed down, he instantly started to proclaim his innocence as he was led away in handcuffs following Choose Linn’s resolution.

“I’m harmless! I may’ve stated I used to be responsible a very long time in the past!” Smollett acknowledged in court docket.

“I’m not suicidal. I’m harmless and I’m not suicidal. If I did this, then it implies that I shoved my fist within the fears of Black Individuals on this nation for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBTQ group,” Smollett shouted.

“Your honor, I respect you and I respect your resolution, however I didn’t do that and I’m not suicidal and if something occurs to me after I go there, I didn’t do it to myself and you could all know that.”