Video Transcript
Now on NBC 10 News at 5:00 a stunning reversal just weeks after Jussie Smollett was indicted on charges he lied about being attacked prosecutors in Chicago today dropped all charges against the actor but prosecutors say this does not mean they think Smollett is innocent of staging a racial and homophobic attack against himself instead prosecutors call today’s reversal part of a deal reached by both sides they say charges were dropped in return for smollett’s agreement to do community service and forfeit his $10,000 bail but smollett’s lawyer immediately disagreed plenty of people forfeit their bond in situations like this Jesse voluntarily agreed to the forfeiture of the bond there is no deal the state dismissed the charges NBC 10 legal analyst Enrique l1 Latoison Enrique who is right here well the prosecution clearly is I mean this is a deal this was a diversionary situation he agreed to pay ten thousand dollars obviously that money is going to go to the time and the effort that was spent for the police and the time they had to do to investigate his claims also he’s agreeing to do community service now that the prosecution normally in cases like this have not prosecuted other people and have not taken it to trial it’s not exactly right to treat him any different just because he’s famous and therefore get into a protracted legal fight over this case so is Smollett on solid legal ground as he now claims he is innocent well when you get into these kind of deals you’re allowed to profess your innocence no one asks if you’re guilty you just ask to enter into a diversionary program and that’s what he did in this case so he legally still has the right to say he’s innocent I think it’s a little odd that he would do it so quickly and put egg basically all over the prosecution’s face in this case when you have the mayor and the Chief of Police being very upset about it he’s allowed to say he’s innocent because he never pled guilty and that is usually a very core principle when you enter into a diversionary program you’re allowed to say I never did it an interesting turn of with this one Enrique L1 Latoison thanks so much for being here with your insight
Contact Enrique Latoison
(610) 999-1439