A judge has ordered Jussie Smollett to be released from jail on bond as the appeal of the suspect's conviction is pending after the "Empire" actor has been sentenced to 150 days imprisonment for lying to Chicago police about being the victim of a hate crime in 2019.
The suspect was previously convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police officers. The appeals court voted in a 2-1 decision on Wednesday, saying that Smollett could be freed from jail after posting a personal recognizance bond of $150,000.
Jussie Smollett Released
The situation meant that he was not required to put down the money but agreed to return to court as required by authorities. Late Wednesday, it was still unclear how soon he could be released from jail.
Following the sentence of 150 days imprisonment, authorities gave Smollett 30 months felony probation, restitution to the city of Chicago in the amount of $120,106, and a fine of $25,000. The suspect's attorney's had argued in court that their client would have completed the jail sentence by the time the appeal process was finished. They added that Smollett could be at risk of physical harm if he were to remain locked up in Cook County Jail, as per Fox News.
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A judge found that because Smollett was not convicted of violent offenses, he would be allowed to be freed. On the other hand, special prosecutor Dan Webb, opposing the suspect's release, argued that no emergency warranted the "extraordinary relief of staying" the sentence.
Webb argued that the suspect was not able to provide any solid proof that he was in danger and said that the defense used "cursory, woefully undeveloped arguments" to convince the court. Smollett's lawyers said that the 39-year-old Black man was at risk in jail because he was immunocompromised and had received threats throughout his high-profile December conviction.
Lying to Police
According to the New York Post, authorities moved the suspect to a different jail cell that had surveillance and kept him away from other prisoners following the Monday motion. The actor told police in 2019 that a group of bigots assaulted him. However, a jury later found that he hired two co-workers from his show to act as they attacked him in an attempt to boost his public profile and promote his acting career.
Following Smollett's report to police, a brief manhunt was conducted, and afterward, police turned their focus on the suspect. Judge James Linn was the one who sentenced the suspect to 150 days in jail which could be reduced to 75 days with good behavior.
The actor continued his theatrics throughout his sentencing, arguing that he was innocent and saying that if he lost his life while he was kept behind bars, it would not be considered suicide but murder. The suspect and his family have been protesting his sentence, arguing that the length of imprisonment was proof of racism in the United States criminal justice system, the Dailymail reported.
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