Jussie Smollett indicted by grand jury on 16 felony counts

A grand jury has returned 16 felony counts against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett for falsely reporting a hate crime against him.

>> Read more trending news

According to WBBM-TV, Smollett is scheduled to be arraigned March 14. The charges are Class 4 felonies.

In this Feb. 21, 2019 file photo, Jussie Smollett leaves George N Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago. A lawyer for Smollett is asking a judge to allow the "Empire" actor to travel while he is free on bond on charges he falsely reported being attacked by two masked men. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski, File)

The Cook County grand jury indictment filed Thursday charges him with falsely reporting an offense.

Smollett was charged in February with making a false police report when he said he was attacked in downtown Chicago by two men who hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and looped a rope around his neck, police said.

Police said he recruited the two men to stage the attack because he was upset with his pay on the Fox show. Smollett has denied playing a role in the attack.