Enrique Latoison appears on NBC Philadelphia to provide updates on the Jussie Smollett case. Smollett is accused of fabricating his own hate-based attack.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Audio Title: Enrique Latoison appears on NBC Philadelphia to provide updates on the Jussie Smollett case
Audio Duration: 0:02:44
Number of Speakers: 4
Transcript
[NBC 10 Breaking News]
Erin Coleman: From actor to accused, this is the mug shot of Empire star Jussie Smollett released today by police. He was accused of staging an attack on himself and telling police he was the victim of a hate crime. Now within the last two hours, Jussie Smollett appeared in court.
Jacqueline London: A judge set his bond at $100,000. Smollett said very little at this afternoon’s hearing other than to give his name. He surrendered to police this morning to face a charge of filing a false police report. It was last month when Smollett told Chicago Police he was attacked by two men shouting racist and homophobic slurs while looping a rope around his neck.
But investigators now say Smollett paid two brothers to stage the attack and all because Smollett was unhappy with his salary on his hit show. Chicago Police are angry.
Superintendent Eddie Johnson: It’s shameful because it painted this city that we all love and work hard in in a negative connotation, to insinuate and to stage a hate crime of that nature when he knew as a celebrity it would get a lot of attention. It’s just despicable.
Jacqueline London: Jussie Smollett faces up to three years in prison and he could be forced to pay for the cost of the investigation. NBC 10 legal analyst Enrique L1 Latoison joins us now to break down this case.
Erin Coleman: Enrique, let’s start with today. What is your inside view on this afternoon’s court action?
Enrique Latoison: Well, the first thing that took place is he was arrested about 5:30 this morning. I’m pretty sure his attorneys arranged that to avoid the media circus. They kind of got him in early when no one was around and then after that, he was taken into custody.
Now when you’re taken into custody, you didn’t have to be arraigned and that’s what took place this afternoon. Now his attorneys asked for unsecured bail or they asked for him to be released. The judge said no. Under these circumstances based on these charges and the public outrage that was taking place, he said his bail is $100,000.
Jacqueline London: And we know it is bad for Smollett now but it can only get worse.
Enrique Latoison: Yes. I mean he’s being charged with a class four felony and that is the charge under the Illinois statute for someone who makes a false police report. In this particular case, the detective spent around-the-clock resources and time investigating this case. You have to remember Mr. Smollett went on the news and he went on the air and he told everyone and no one was taking him seriously.
So the police in this case were very careful to do a very lengthy investigation before charging Mr. Smollett.
Erin Coleman: We will have to see how this whole thing plays out. But it has the nation’s attention for sure.
Jacqueline London: Enrique, thank you.
Enrique Latoison: You’re welcome.
Jacqueline London: Turning back to our weather right now.
[End of transcript]
Contact Enrique Latoison
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