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Published 08:32 11 Mar 2022 GMT
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While the actor faced up to three years in prison for each of the five counts, he maintained his innocence. On Thursday, the defence asked again that the case be thrown out, citing that a prosecutor in 2019 promised to drop the charges.
Prosecutors described the defence's behaviour as "finger-pointing and scapegoating."
Throughout the hearing, the judge heard witness statements from family members, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, and even Hollywood veteran Samuel L Jackson.
"Jussie should not be incarcerated," his brother Joel said. "He is not a threat to the people of Illinois."
Judge James Linn told the actor: "There is nothing that I can do here today that can come close to the damage you've already done to your own life,"
He continued: "You've turned your life upside down by your conduct and shenanigans.
"You're just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, and that's shameful."
Addressing the entire courtroom after the sentencing, Smollett raised his hand to shout: "I am innocent, and I am not suicidal."
"If I did this, then it means that I stuck my fist in the fears of black Americans in this country for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBT community.
"But I did not do this."
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