'Sons of Anarchy' Season 5 adds Jimmy Smits

"NYPD Blue" star Jimmy Smits has joined "Sons of Anarchy" for a significant arc. He'll be heavily featured throughout the season as Neron "Nero" Padilla, described as "a Latino gangbanger with an exit strategy."

Expect him to take an interest in Jax (Charlie Hunnam) -- which turns dangerous when Jax begins to think of Nero as a mentor. The casting was first reported by Deadline.

"Sons of Anarchy" exec producer Kurt Sutter had this to say on the matter...

SMITS, bitches. deadline.com/2012/04/jimmy-...

-- kurt sutter (@sutterink) April 5, 2012

Word.

"For me, the interesting dynamic to play out this season is seeing Jax at the head of that table and the struggle that he has of being king," Sutter recently said of his plans for Season 5. "How do you, can you be the leader of an organized crime syndicate and not become Clay? And if you choose not to become Clay, are you doomed to the fate of John Teller?"