(JTA) — Black, Jewish and gay actor Jussie Smollett was indicted on felony charges for making a false police report in which he said he was the victim of a hate attack last month in Chicago.
Smollett, known for his role in the Fox drama “Empire,” was charged Feb. 20 with felony disorder conduct, which carries an up to three-year prison sentence and could require the actor to repay police for the cost of the investigation, which could run to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
He was taken into police custody on Feb. 21 at Chicago Police headquarters.
Fox Entertainment has said it is not cutting the Smollett’s openly gay character Jamal Lyon, though Deadline Hollywood reported on Feb. 20 that there are rumors that the character’s scenes have been trimmed or cut in the episodes currently being filmed and that the network is considering suspending Smollett from the show or putting him on some form of leave
Police believe two Nigerian brothers were paid by the actor to stage the attack. The brothers, one who appears in “Empire,” testified Feb. 20 before a grand jury.
Smollett has denied involvement in the Jan. 29 attack in downtown Chicago in which he told police that two men “gained his attention by yelling out racial and homophobic slurs towards him” before attacking, pouring an “unknown chemical substance” on him and wrapping a rope around his neck. They said “This is MAGA country” as they fled, he also told police.
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Now celebrating its 25th season, the farmers market will be located on the grounds of the historic Pikesville Armory, at 640 Reisterstown Road.