'Empire' Actor Jussie Smollett Indicted On 16 Felony Counts By Grand Jury
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Jussie Smollett is now facing deeper legal troubles after a grand jury returned 16 felony counts against the actor for falsely reporting a hate crime attack against him in January.
The grand jury returned the disorderly conduct charges on Thursday. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 14. The specific allegations–"false report of offense"– are Class 4 felonies.
FULL COVERAGE: Read CBS Chicago Exclusive Coverage Of The Smollett Case | Read The Jussie Smollet Grand Jury Indictment
"Jussie Smollett knew that at the time … there was no reasonable ground for believing that such offenses had been committed," according to the indictment.
The indictment expands the case against the actor. The counts focus on allegedly false statements he made to two different Chicago Police officers. Each count covers various alleged acts that Smollett falsely described to the officers–including that he was hit by two men, that they yelled racial and homophobic slurs and poured a chemical on him.