The misdemeanor complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2007 says that Smollett gave the name of his brother, Jake Smollett, when he was asked by an officer. He also signed a false name on the promise to appear in court.
Smollett also was later charged with false impersonation, driving under the influence, and driving without a valid license.
Court records show Smollett pleaded no contest to the reduced charge of giving false information, in addition to driving under the influence and driving without a valid license counts. The records show he later completed an alcohol education and treatment program and completed the terms of his sentence in May 2008.
The details of the complaint were first reported by NBC News , which also reported that Smollett was sentenced to two years probation and a choice of a fine or jail.
News of the 2007 case comes amid growing skepticism over an attack that Smollett alleges occurred on January 29, 2019. The incident initially sparked widespread outrage on behalf of Smollett, who is black and gay, and prompted the Chicago Police Department to investigate the incident as a hate crime.
Smollett said two men assaulted him, tied a rope around his neck, poured an unknown chemical on him, and shouted racist and homophobic slurs.
But after interviewing two brothers who were seen on surveillance cameras leaving the scene of the alleged attack, Chicago police have apparently pivoted their investigation into whether Smollett paid the two men to stage the assault, multiple media outlets reported , citing federal officials and other sources.
Smollett has maintained that he is telling the truth about the assault, and his attorneys last Saturday released a statement saying Smollett was "further victimized" by the accusations that he staged the attack.
"Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying," they said.
