Jussie Smollett found guilty of staging a hate crime against himself By CNBC Television

Jussie, Smollett, made it all up the actor and musician. Staged the hate crime against him, a claim of a noose, around his neck of two men attacking him on a frigid night in Chicago, dousing it with bleach yelling. This is Maga country, all lies and his claim under oath that, there was no hoax. That was a lie, too.

Here’s small that walking into court in Chicago about an hour and a half ago, moments before the decision came down after deliberating. For more than nine hours. A jury found jussie Smollett guilty on five of six counts of felony, disorderly. Conduct the judge, announced the verdict last hour. The jurors heard six days of testimony from more than a dozen Witnesses, but essentially, the criminal trial came down to whose story was more believable. Small. Let’s or the two brothers. He says attack.

Jussie, Smollett could face up to three years in prison for each count, but it’s unlikely that will happen. Since the actor, has a clean criminal record. Now, here’s what we’re waiting for. We’re waiting for lawyers to come outside to the courthouse. A short time ago, a prosecutor spoke. And the prosecutor said, we proved our case. Jussie. Smollett is guilty. A judge set a hearing for late next month and then a sentencing date will be determined later. This is a live look outside. The courthouse are

Producers there have not said that jussie Smollett came as come out these doors. He and an Entourage along with lawyers went in, but we haven’t yet. Seen them come out. We’ll wait for that. And should the lawyers take to? The microphones, will bring it to you live. First. David Henderson, civil rights, attorney CNBC, contributor David. The problem here was the stories. One story had facts behind it. And another story didn’t

Yes, if that’s exactly right. Honestly, you could tell this from the beginning because originally they were investigating in order to prosecute the people accused of attacking. Mr. Smollett. There’s no way they were going to reverse on him unless they thought they had a really strong case. And ultimately when he took the stand there is some things. He just couldn’t explain like that. Thirty five hundred dollar payment. What do you suspect would? It would happen now? I mean the lawyers I’ve spoken with and I think you’ve said the chances of probation are pretty good. But is there a case to be made?

Made that this was particularly egregious according to the verdict of the jury. I mean, there was video of him going around this place the day before, setting it all up, one lie. After another lie, after another lie, according to the to the jury’s verdict, and all four were led to believe publicity. And what is talking about. Here is a hate crime. He’s staged a hate crime, a black gay, man, so might say, he should have known better than that.

Oh shit. I think that goes without saying that he should have known better than to do that. Now in terms of your question about the sentencing whenever you’re a celebrity and whenever you’ve done something that’s particularly egregious and notable, you run yourself the risk of being made an exception of and a judge trying to demonstrate. Hey, we need to make sure this doesn’t happen again. So we’re going to make an example out of you. That’s a risk that he does run and it’s hard to anticipate what the result of that is going to be a normal person. I say they’re looking at a year or lesser probation.

Judge again, though could make an exception for him. You know, these sorts of crimes do happen from time to time and convincing juries that they did is is sometimes very difficult. What is this due to Justice in this Lane in America? Is this is this so egregious that it could be injurious in the big picture, you know? Shep, I think whenever you have cases like this, that make the news where someone is found to have lied about a hate crime or about any type of a violent crime. As someone.

Who’s had to try these types of cases? It does always make you fearful of what you’re going to be dealing with in the jury pool because people already start off being skeptical, but the counterbalance is every case gets dealt with one tree at a time, one trial at a time. So, I don’t think it’s something that can’t be overcome. It just does give an unnecessary negative perception about hate crimes.

Shepard Smith here. Thanks for watching CNBC on YouTube.