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Rutgers student convicted
A jury found a former Rutgers University student guilty of invasion of privacy and some bias intimidation charges in the webcam-spying trial, deciding that he was motivated by homophobia when he streamed video of his roommate?s intimate encounter with another man.
After less than three full days of deliberations, the five men and seven women of the jury found Dharun Ravi, 20 years old, guilty of invading the privacy of his 18-year-old roommate, Tyler Clementi, and his dorm-room date. They also found that Ravi was motivated by bias in at least some of the charges in the case under a New Jersey hate-crime law that had been largely untested so far.
The jury had been asked to decide Ravi?s motivations when he trained his webcam on Clementi and his date on two separate occasions in September 2010, in a case that set off a national conversation about cyber-bullying and treatment of gay youth. Clementi, a quiet freshman and gifted violinist who had told his parents he was gay days before leaving for college, killed himself by jumping off George Washington Bridge shortly after he learned about the spying.
Ravi was not charged in connection with the death. He showed no reaction as the jury forewoman read the verdict. Families for both sides filled five benches of the packed courtroom, remaining stone-faced as the verdicts were read.
Ravi faces up to 10 years in prison on most serious bias intimidation convictions, but is likely to receive a lesser sentence based on sentencing guidelines because he is a first time offender.
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/03/16/former-rutgers-student-convicted-in-webcam-spying-trial/
Re: Rutgers student convicted
I don't know how I feel about this.
It's hard for me to believe the intent was that malicious that he thought he could seriously jeopardize Clementi's life somehow. He does sound immature and I think he should have been found guilty on at least several of the charges, because what he did sucked and he should get some sort of punishment for it. But I'm really surprised he was found guilty of the most serious of the charges as well.
I'll think about this and read up on this some more but I don't feel thrilled about this verdict right off the bat.
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home Dmarie, i've been following this trial pretty closely (well, as closely as you can through the media) and ITA with you. i don't think this guy was out to "hurt" anyone (physically). he sounds like a huge douchebag.
here's a piece i read earlier this week that, if it is all true, really shed some light on it for me:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/06/120206fa_fact_parker
I am sad about the verdict. I don't think he was being malicious where he thought someone would die. He was being an ahole and immature, but I don't think he ever thought someone would kill themselves from his actions.
It is just unfortunate for everyone involved. 2 lives completely ruined.
I'm conflicted by this too. Was there the intent for Clementi to kill himself? No. But was there intent to make fun of him and embarass him? Absolutely. I'm not willing to chalk this up to pure immaturity.
I think his actions need to be punished, but I don't think 10 years in prison is the answer.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
I am glad he was convicted on all counts. Sure, Tavi probably didn't intend for Clementi to kill himself, but he wasn't tried for manslaughter or murder. I do absolutely think that what he did was a bias crime.
In addition to the possible 10 years in jail, he also faces possible deportation after his sentence since he's an Indian citizen.
This is how I feel. I do feel it was a hate crime.
But I don't think 10 years is necessarily the answer.
And even though he isn't a US citizen, I believe he grew up in NJ.
His lawyers should have made him take the plea bargain.
He did grow up in NJ - Plainsboro. I didn't realize that he just rejected a plea bargain in December that would have just given him probation, community service and counseling, and would have probably eliminated the chance of deportation. He's an idiot, and knowing he rejected a deal like that, I wouldn't even feel bad if he got the max.
Since when is immaturity of a college student a legitimate legal defense?
I'm sorry for the DUI, I was being immature and doing keg stands. Can I go now?
he was NOT convicted on all counts. he was convicted on parts of all the counts. it's not the same thing.
COUNT 1
4th Degree Invasion of Privacy, related to Tyler Clementi: GUILTY
4th Degree Invasion of Privacy, related to Clementi's guest, M.B.: GUILTY
(Observed Clementi/M.B. in sexual contact without their consent on Sept. 19)
COUNT 2
3rd Degree Bias Intimidation
(For 4th Degree Invasion of Privacy charge on Sept. 19)
? Invasion of Privacy with the purpose to intimidate Tyler Clementi because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy with the purpose to intimidate M.B. because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause Tyler Clementi to be intimidated because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause M.B. to be intimidated because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, under circumstances that caused Tyler Clementi to be intimidated, and considering the manner in which the offense was committed, Clementi reasonably believed that he was selected to be the target of the offense because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
COUNT 3
3rd Degree Invasion of Privacy, related to Tyler Clementi: GUILTY
3rd Degree Invasion of Privacy, related to M.B.: GUILTY
(Activated webcam so other people could view Clementi/M.B. in sexual contact on Sept 19.)
COUNT 4
2nd Degree Bias Intimidation
(For 3rd Degree Invasion of Privacy charge on Sept. 19)
? Invasion of Privacy, with the purpose to intimidate Tyler Clementi because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, with the purpose to intimidate M.B. because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause Tyler Clementi to be intimidated because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause M.B. to be intimidated, because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, under circumstances that caused Tyler Clementi to be intimidated, and considering the manner in which the offense was committed, Clementi reasonably believed that he was selected to be the target of the offense because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
COUNT 5
4th Degree Attempted Invasion of Privacy, related to Tyler Clementi: GUILTY
4th Degree Attempted Invasion of Privacy, related to M.B.: GUILTY
(Tried to observe Clementi/M.B. in sexual contact without their consent on Sept. 21)
COUNT 6
3rd Degree Bias Intimidation
(For 4th Degree Invasion of Privacy charge on Sept. 21)
? Invasion of Privacy, with the purpose to intimidate Tyler Clementi because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
? Invasion of Privacy, with the purpose to intimidate M.B. because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause Tyler Clementi to be intimated because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause M.B. to be intimidated because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, under circumstances that caused Tyler Clementi to be intimidated, and considering the manner in which the offense was committed, Clementi reasonably believed that he was selected to be the target of the offense because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
COUNT 7
3rd Degree Attempted Invasion of Privacy, related to Tyler Clementi: GUILTY
3rd Degree Attempted Invasion of Privacy, related to M.B.: GUILTY
(Tried to show Clementi/M.B. in sexual contact to other people on Sept. 21)
COUNT 8
2nd Degree Bias Intimidation
(For 3rd Degree Attempted Invasion of Privacy charge on Sept. 21)
? Invasion of Privacy, with the purpose to intimidate Tyler Clementi because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
? Invasion of Privacy, with the purpose to intimidate M.B. because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause Tyler Clementi to be intimidated because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
? Invasion of Privacy, knowing that the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause M.B. to be intimidated because of sexual orientation: ACQUITTED
? Invasion of Privacy, under circumstances that caused Tyler Clementi to be intimidated, and considering the manner in which the offense was committed, Clementi reasonably believed that he was selected to be the target of the offense because of sexual orientation: GUILTY
COUNT 9
4th Degree Tampering with Physical Evidence: GUILTY
(Deleted tweets relevant to police investigation)
COUNT 10
4th Degree Tampering with Physical Evidence: GUILTY
(Wrote and posted a false tweet)
COUNT 11
3rd Degree Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution: GUILTY
(Destroyed evidence relevant to investigation)
COUNT 12
3rd Degree Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution: GUILTY
(Prevented a witness from providing testimony)
COUNT 13
3rd Degree Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution: GUILTY
(Lied to police)
COUNT 14
3rd Degree Witness Tampering: GUILTY
(Tried to influence what Molly Wei told police)
COUNT 15
4th Degree Tampering with Physical Evidence: GUILTY
(Deleted text messages sent to and received from witnesses)
If he's the one that really made the decision to reject that sweeta$$ deal, then I don't feel bad for him at all.
not when it comes to possible sentencing and deportation. the severity of the crimes he was actually convicted of will be what determines his legal status in the end.
I agree. And the fact that he tried to influence witnesses ticks me off.
I would bet money that the lawyers were counting on a more sympathetic jury because the case included sexual orientation-motivated bias. I'm sure the lawyers thought he would be acquitted and recommended he not take the plea bargain. He should have taken it. What he did was reprehensible and the choices he made (especially the witness tampering on top of it all) were really poor from start to finish. I don't buy the "immaturity" defense for a second. In what world is that a defense?