More than a decade before the current investigation involving Jussie Smollett's attack claims, the "Empire" actor pleaded no contest to providing authorities with false information in a DUI case.
Smollett, 36, told police a false name after being stopped in 2007, CNN reported, citing the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.
The actor pleaded no contest to three misdemeanors in total in that incident, with the others being driving under the influence and operating a vehicle with a license, according to CNN and NBC.
He received a two-year probation sentence, as well as choice of jail time or a fine, a City Attorney's Office spokesman confirmed to both outlets.
Smollett gave police his brother's name, Jake, according to Variety, which referenced a criminal complaint involving the star.
News of Smollett's past legal history emerges as cops probe whether the actor orchestrated the attack on himself with the help of two brothers who were questioned by police last week and released without being charged.
Earlier this week, CNN reported that a pair of unnamed law enforcement sources said Chicago Police suspect Smollett paid the brothers to carry out the attack.
Smollett's legal team has denied the actor played any role in carrying out the attack.
"As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with," his lawyers Todd S. Pugh and Victor P. Henderson said in a statement Saturday.
"He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying."
The brothers were about to testify before a grand jury Tuesday before Smollett's attorneys called the Cook County State's Attorney's office in Chicago and said they had possible new evidence, causing the testimony to be postponed, CBS Chicago reported.
Smollett claimed to police that he was jumped by a pair of attackers who hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him, poured a liquid that smelled like bleach and placed a rope around his neck.
He has also claimed one of the men who attacked him told him it was "MAGA country," referring to President Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the case Tuesday.
"Out of an abundance of caution, the decision to recuse herself was made to address potential questions of impartiality based upon familiarity with potential witnesses in the case," a spokeswoman said.
With News Wire Services
