Jussie Smollett indicted by Grand Jury on 16 Counts of False Reports –

CHICAGO, IL. (ECWd) –

This afternoon, a Grand Jury issued a True Bill of Indictment against Jussie Smollett.

The indictment (HERE or read it below) indicates 16 Counts of “False Report of Offense” – each Count being a Class 4 Felony.

720 ILCS 5/26-1 (a)(4) Transmits or causes to be transmitted in any manner to any peace officer, public officer or public employee a report to the effect that an offense will be committed, is being committed, or has been committed, knowing at the time of the transmission that there is no reasonable ground for believing that the offense will be committed, is being committed, or has been committed;

Smollett is scheduled to be arraigned on March 14th.

The First Count of the indictment reads:

“in that HE, KNOWINGLY TRANSMITTED OR CAUSED TO BE TRANSMITTED, IN ANY MANNER, TO ANY PEACE OFFICER, PUBLIC OFFICER OR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, TO WIT: CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER MUHAMMED BAIG, A REPORT TO THE EFFECT THAT AN OFFENSE HAD BEEN COMMITTED, TO WIT: JUSSIE SMOLLETT REPORTED, IN PERSON, THAT HE WAS THE VICTIM OF A BATTERY, A HATE CRIME AND AN AGGRAVATED BATTERY, REPORTING THAT QN JANUARY 29, 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 AM, ON THE PUBLIC WAY NEAR 341 EAST LOWER NORTH WATER STREET, IN CHICAGO, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, TWO UNKNOWN MALES, DRESSED IN BLACK AND ONE OF WHOM WORE A BLACK MASK, APPROACHED JUSSIE SMOLLETT, CALLED JUSSIE SMOLLETT RACIAL AND HOMOPHOBIC SLURS, AND STRUCK JUSSIE SMOLLETT ABOUT THE FACE WITH THEIR HANDS, CAUSING BODILY HARM TO JUSSIE SMOLLETT, AND THE TWO UNKNOWN MALES MADE PHYSICAL CONTACT OF AN INSULTING OR PROVOKING NATURE WITH JUSSIE SMOLLETT, POURING AN UNKNOWN CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE ONTO JUSSIE SMOLLETT, AND JUSSIE SMOLLETT KNEW THAT AT THE TIME OF THIS TRANSMISSION THERE WAS NO REASONABLE GROUND FOR BELIEVING THAT SUCH OFFENSES HAD BEEN COMMITTED, IN VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 720 ACT 5 SECTION 26-l(a) (4) OF ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES ACT 1992 AS AMENDED AND
contrary to the Statute and against the peace and dignity of the same People of the State of Illinois. “

The remaining Counts read with similar language.

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