UPDATE: 12:30pm EST
A judge sentenced Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers University student convicted of bias intimidation for using a webcam to see his roommate and another man kissing, to a 30-day jail term as well as probation. Ravi will have to attend a counseling program for bullying and alternate lifestyles and will have to complete 300 hours of community services.
Prosecutor says she plans to appeal judge’s sentence for Ravi.
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Dharun Ravi, 20, the former Rutgers University student who spied on gay student Tyler Clementi, will be sentenced today. A judge will decide whether or not to send him to prison.
STORY: GUILTY! Rutgers Student Convicted In Tyler Clementi Webcam Case
According to the Associated Press, Ravi could get up to 10 years for each of two second-degree bias intimidation charges in a case that became renowned because his roommate, Tyler Clementi, committed suicide days after the spying.
Prosecutors contend that Ravi should get a serious sentence, but less than 10 years. Ravi’s supporters say he does not deserve prison and that the jury was wrong to convict him of a hate crime.
In September of 2010, Ravi set up a webcam in his dorm and captured his roommate, Clementi, kissing another man, then tweeted about it and excitedly tried to catch Clementi in the act again two days later. About half-dozen students were believed to have seen the live video of the kissing.
Within days, Clementi realized he had been watched and leaped from the George Washington Bridge after posting one last status update on Facebook: “Jumping off the gw bridge, sorry.”
According to testimony, Clementi asked Ravi to leave their room so that he could have a guest. Later, Ravi posted on Twitter: “Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly’s room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.”
Two nights later, Clementi asked for the room alone again. This time, Ravi tweeted: “I dare you to video chat me between the hours of 9:30 and 12. Yes, it’s happening again.” Ravi also texted a friend about a planned “viewing party” and, two students said, went to friends’ dorm rooms to show them how to access the feed.
Ravi’s lawyer argued that the college freshman was not motivated by any malice toward gays – a necessary element to prove a hate crime – and that his actions were just those of an immature “kid.”
Ravi was not charged with causing Clementi’s death, and the suicide remained largely in the background at the trial, though some witnesses mentioned it and the jury was told Clementi had taken his life.
