Jussie Smollett's Conviction Upheld by Appeals Court

An Illinois appeals court has upheld the conviction and sentence of actor Jussie Smollett for fabricating a hate crime in 2019. The court ruled that Cook County prosecutors did not enter into a nonprosecution agreement with Smollett when they dropped the charges against him, allowing for the refile of charges by a special prosecutor. Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly conduct, sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probation, and ordered to pay $130,160 in restitution. His attorneys had argued that the new charges constituted double jeopardy, but the court disagreed.