Jussie Smollett begins serving 150-day sentence in Cook County Jail

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Jussie Smollett spent his first night behind bars after a judge sentenced him to five months for a fake hate crime.

Thursday's hearing ended dramatically as Smollett got up from his seat and declared his innocence and his concern for his own safety.

WATCH | Jussie Smollett's emotional outburst in court

The 39-year was expressionless and his family and others in the courtroom stunned as Cook County Judge James Linn handed down sentencing.

"You will spend the first 150 days of your sentence in the Cook County Jail, and that will start today. Right here, right now," Judge Linn said.

In considering the sentence, Linn said Smollett's "extreme" premeditation of the crime was an aggravating factor. He also said the actor had denigrated the experiences of real hate crime victims, calling him a "charlatan" and a liar.

"You got on the witness stand. You didn't have to. You did. You certainly had a right to. But you committed hour upon hour upon hour of perjury," Linn said.

WATCH | Judge Linn's full sentencing remarks

While in jail, Smollett also begins 30 months of probation in addition to being ordered to pay more than $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago and a $25,000 fine.

The disgraced actor then addressed the court.

"I am not suicidal," Smollett said. "I am not suicidal! I am innocent! And I am not suicidal. If I did this, then it means that I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for 400 years and the fears of the LGBTQ community. Your honor, I respect you, and I respect the jury, but I did not do this, and I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself! And you must all know that!"

The sentence came three months after Smollett was convicted of five counts of felony disorderly conduct for lying to Chicago police.

"I didn't think it would be quite this long, but the judge made clear he sees this offense more than just a minor felony, he sees it did damage to hate crime victims everywhere," said ABC7 Legal Analyst Gil Soffer.

Smollett was still proclaiming his innocence as he was led out of court after sentencing.

"I am innocent!" he said. "I could have said I was guilty a long time ago!"

WATCH | Family defends Jussie Smollett's innocence after sentencing

The sentencing outraged Smollett's family, who slammed the judge after sentencing.

"My brother Jussie is innocent this should not be a controversial statement because it is the absolute truth," said Jazz Smollett, Jussie's sister.

"He shamed my brother," Jojo Smollett, Jussie's brother, said. "He spoke about his arrogance. He doesn't know about the struggle my brother is encountering."

Report on Kim Foxx's office's handling of Jussie Smollett case made public, judge rules

Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor Dan Webb praised the judge.

"This was a course of conduct that deserved severe punishment," Webb said. "I thought it was the right way to do it. And I do believe that based on the sentencing he received that Judge Linn clearly understood exactly what had happened in this case."

Smollett's defense team said they're stunned and vowed to appeal.

"I have never seen in my entire career as an attorney, and none of the other attorneys here have ever seen a situation where a class 4 felony gets the same treatment as a violent offense," said defense attorney Nenye Uche.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot applauded the judge's ruling, writing: "The criminal conviction of Jussie Smollett by a jury of his peers and today's sentencing should send a clear message to everyone in the City of Chicago that false claims and allegations will not be tolerated. The malicious and wholly fabricated claim made by Mr. Smollett resulted in over 1500 hours of police work that cost the City over $130,000 in police overtime. The City feels vindicated in today's ruling that he is being held accountable and that we will appropriately receive restitution for his actions."

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