A Chicago jury found that US actor Jussie Smollett lied to police when he claimed to have been the victim of a racist, homophobic assault.
At his trial this week, Smollett, 39, maintained his denials that he staged the hoax attack on himself.
Prosecutors countered that he “lied for hours” on the stand, repeating what he told Chicago cops.
He was found guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct on Thursday.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Given Smollett’s lack of prior convictions, experts predict a lighter sentence or probation. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
One day after deliberations began, the jury of six men and six women reached a decision.
The trial arose from an incident nearly three years ago, in January 2019, when the former Empire television show star reported being the victim of an attack to police.
Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that he was attacked while walking late at night in Chicago by two assailants who shouted slurs, yelled a Trump slogan, dumped a “chemical substance” on him, and tied a noose around his neck.
