Crime

Former Rutgers Student Found Guilty in Webcam Spying Case After Gay Roommate’s Suicide

Former Rutgers University Student Dharun Ravi Found Guilty in Webcam Spying Case After Gay Roommate Tyler Clementis Suicide

Dharun Ravi, 20, accused of using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate, was found guilty of invasion of privacy and anti-gay intimidation Friday. Image source: New Jersey Star-Ledger

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — A former Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate’s love life was convicted of invasion of privacy and anti-gay intimidation Friday in a case that exploded into the headlines when the victim of the snooping committed suicide by throwing himself off a bridge.

Dharun Ravi, 20, shook his head slightly after hearing the guilty verdicts on all 15 counts against him.

He could get several years in prison – and could be deported to his native India, even though he has lived legally in the U.S. since he was a little boy – for his part in an act that cast a spotlight on teen suicide and anti-gay bullying and illustrated the Internet’s potential for tormenting others.

Prosecutors said that Ravi set up a webcam in his dorm room in September 2010 and captured his roommate, Tyler Clementi, kissing another man, then tweeted about it and excitedly tried to catch Clementi in the act again two days later. About a 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.”

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.”

The defense also contended Ravi initially set up the camera because he was afraid Clementi’s older, “sketchy”-looking visitor might steal his belongings.

The jury found Ravi not guilty on some subparts of some of the charges, but guilty of all 15 counts as a whole.

The most serious charges against Ravi – bias intimidation based on sexual orientation, a hate crime – carry up to 10 years in prison each. Legal experts said the most Ravi would probably get all together at sentencing May 21 would be 10 years.

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. Prosecutors were not allowed to argue directly that the spying led to his death; defense lawyers were barred from saying there were other reasons he killed himself.

Clementi’s death was one in a string of suicides by young gays around the country in September 2010. President Barack Obama commented on it, as did talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

New Jersey lawmakers hastened passage of an anti-bullying law because of the case, and Rutgers changed its housing policies to allow opposite-sex roommates in an effort to make gay, bisexual and transgender students feel more comfortable.

Testimony came from about 30 witnesses over 12 days, including the man seen kissing Clementi. The 32-year-old man was identified in court only by the initials M.B. Ravi himself did not testify, though the jury watched a video of his interrogation by police.

Ravi and Clementi, both 18-year-old freshmen from comfortable New Jersey suburbs, had been randomly assigned to room together at Rutgers, and Clementi had arrived at college just a few days after coming out to his parents as gay.

A string of students testified they never heard Ravi say anything bad about gays in general or Clementi in particular. But students did say Ravi expressed some concern about sharing a room with a gay man.

On Sept. 19, 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.”

Ravi told police that he viewed only seconds of the encounter via computer.

His friend Molly Wei testified that she and a few other students also watched the live stream of the men kissing. (Wei was initially charged in the case but was later accepted into a pretrial program that will allow her to keep her record clean.)

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.

However, there was no evidence the webcam was turned on that night. Ravi told police he had put his computer to sleep. Prosecutors argued Clementi himself unplugged the computer.

According to testimony, Clementi submitted a room-change request form and talked to a resident assistant about what happened. He also used his laptop to view Ravi’s Twitter site 38 times in the last two days of his life. He killed himself on Sept. 22.

Comments (43)

  • AB5r
    Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:37am

    They are now even placing men and women together as roommates in some schools. So imagine if a male student posted a cam of his female roommate having sex, with whoever, not even gay sex, even that would be a severe invasion of privacy. Though in this day and age it might just make the girl more popular. But it is still wrong. All of this video technology makes having actual privacy rather difficult. Even people on one night stands, how in the world do you not know the person, for all intents and purposes a stranger to you, isn’t taping it?

    Report Post » AB5r  
  • AB5r
    Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:15am

    His mistake was not demanding a straight roommate. Sure, even then he would have been labeled a vicious bigoted hater, a tag that would have carried through his entire time at the school, affecting even some of his (gay or liberal) teachers attitude toward him, but at least he wouldn’t be going to jail. If at all possible never allow yourself to be placed in the position of sharing space with a gay or a Muslim, or if forced to, keep your interaction to the absolute minimum and be on guard 100% of the time. The politically correct world is out to destroy all normal people who maintain normal and traditional values. Sure, this guy messed up with the cam and all that, but there are plenty of other problems even if you don’t do something that inconsiderate.

    Report Post » AB5r  
  • SCHEXbp
    Posted on March 17, 2012 at 5:06am

    Omitted from Story: The guy Clement was kissing was some 30 year old man. I assume this was NOT a student, but some pickup.
    The whole thing needs to be overturned. If being gay is SO wonderful, why is there an inherent shame which is strong enough to purportedly send one to suicide? He was a mess because the lifestyle is a mess. Plop that down in a testosterone-rich dorm environment & one is asking to be made fun of, at the minimum. This backhanded assigning of blame is leading the legal system into some though police area that to date has been resisted to a large extent.

    Report Post »  
  • krisiniL
    Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:22am

    I’m not a fan of “hate crime” legislation, but I don’t feel any sympathy for this defendant. He was cruel and heartless to someone he perceived as weaker, and now the tables will be turned in prison.

    Report Post »  
  • Git-R-Done
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:36pm

    Rapists and child molesters don’t get anywhere near the harsh sentence that Ravi got. Invasion of privacy is not worse than committing rape or molesting a child. This goes to show you that liberalism is a mental disorder.

    Report Post »  
  • zoro51
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 7:33pm

    exterminate him no pitty no mercy do unto him what he did to that guy… JAIL TIME no DEATH call…

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • VoteRightDammit
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 5:50pm

    Disturbed and lonely guy decides to “go gay”.

    Gay guy is ashamed of his perverse acts and hopes no one finds out.

    Innocent normal guy is forced to share a bedroom with gay guy; university refuses to reassign him.

    Gay guy is “outed” online by normal guy.

    Gay guy, realizing everyone now knows just what kind of guy he really is, can’t stand it.

    Gay guy, in sad end to decision to ‘go gay’, kills self.

    Gay activists see opportunity, launch effort to crucify normal guy who is charged in court & dragged thru mud.

    Court, properly conditioned by pro-gay propaganda, convicts normal guy.

    ‘CAUSE, HEAVEN FORBID – WE CAN‘T CAN’T CAN’T EXPECT A GAY GUY TO RAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROXIMATE RESULTS OF HIS DECISIONS AND BEHAVIOR! GOTTA BE SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT!

    (and if you object, you are a BIGOT and Homophobic H8ter)

    Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
  • miketype1each
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 4:29pm

    So, am I to believe that if I was to catch a “straight” person in some sort of compromised or illegal act, and bring that act to light, it wouldn’t be labeled as some sort of “hate” crime; but if I was to catch a gay person in a compromised or illegal act, and bring that act to light, it WOULD be labeled as a “hate” crime? Am I to believe that any act performed or perpetrated by a gay person is both reasonable AND legal? If I caught a gay person robbing a store, and posted that online, would that be a crime more punishable than that of the gay person robbing the store? What we got here is a failure to understand that the “gay equality” shtick has always been a fat pant load when it comes to what the gays really, really want: Special treatment in all cases, at any time, in any place, forever.

    Dharun Ravi is no more responsible for the suicide of a person than anyone who, for whatever reason, goes down the dark path of ridicule. What of the mother who “bullied” a girl online, and who was found not guilty of the girl’s suicide? People who commit suicide choose to do so: Some, when they are ashamed of what they have done; some, when they feel there is no way out of a situation; and others, because they find no more joy in living.

    It is tragic a life was lost, but Clementi put himself on that bridge. It is tragic he didn’t find the strength to go on living.

    Report Post »  
  • wampanoag
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 4:28pm

    What a cold fish Ravi is. He turned off the jurors with his smug expression. His lawyers should have put him on the stand and he should have cried his heart out in front of the jurors and say how stupid he was and how sorry he is for his immaturity and stupidity. I dont understand how some lawyers can be so bad.

    Report Post »  
  • disenlightened
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:24pm

    Sad case, but this conviction WILL be overturned on appeal.

    Report Post » disenlightened  
    • disenlightened
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:30pm

      The anti-gay intimidation will be overturned on appeal, not necessarily the invasion of privacy. He’ll receive a short adult probation.

      Report Post » disenlightened  
    • rangerp
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:59pm

      “convicted of anti-gay intimidation” so when did that become a crime? is there a crime of anti christian discrimination?

      Report Post » rangerp  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:22pm

    Clear invasion of privacy, filming a roomates tryst then posting it online!

    Report Post » flatbroke  
  • ConservativeQtee
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:00pm

    Casey Anthony is a free woman. Ravi gets 10 years. This country is So Backwards!

    Report Post »  
  • ConservativeQtee
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 2:59pm

    Casey Anthony is free and poor Ravi gets 10 years. They have something to prove with this case. This country is so backwards.

    Report Post »  
  • Tom K
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 2:11pm

    For his 10 year sentence, put him in a women’s prison. Years in an all male facility would be like Summer Camp. Keeping him away from males would be real punishment. Not hateful, just practicle.

    Report Post »  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:58pm

    They made an example out of him. If there’s any justice in this world, he would get a re-trial, because it’s obvious there was political implications attached to this trial.

    Furthermore, if you’re not ashamed of having sex with somebody of the same gender, you likely wouldn’t go so far as to kill yourself. Obviously, in this case, his room mate wasn’t capable of handling his own shameful feelings. Sounds rather pathetic.

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
  • thejackal
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:50pm

    I can understand the invasion of privacy charge and conviction, but anti-gay?!?!?! Huh, oh well off to India Chaluppa. Adios!

    Report Post » thejackal  
  • Joisey
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:17pm

    Got that everyone? Don’t do anything that might cause embarrassment to the GLBT crowd. If you do, they will criminalize your conduct after the fact and put you in jail. While you are at it, walk a respectful distance behind your GLBT Lords & Masters and bow your head.

    Report Post » Joisey  
    • miketype1each
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 4:33pm

      Hold on there, Joisey! It’s GLBTQI now: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersexed. Got that?

      God help us all.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:14pm

    I don’t like hate crime laws they are B.S. However, what if one of your daughter’s sorority sisters secretly filmed her having sex with someone and then lauched it into the digital world and she killed herself? It deserves jail time no matter what the victims sexual preference is.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • BonnieBlueFlag
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:32pm

      Um, what?

      The dorm is not a “time share.” The roommates have rights to be in and even film their own place. It is illegal to “lojack” someone’s car without their knowledge… unless you own the car! You can lojack your cheating spouse legally if you are at least a co-owner of the vehicle, but if its only in your spouse‘s name it’s a crime. This is HIS DORM TOO. Sex was not filmed and distributed just KISSING. In addition, the suicide was the choice of the homosexual student, who took the same path many take and not because of “bullying.” You can’t suicide someone else.

      Finally, there is no such thing as “provocation” under the (criminal) law. The law assumes that grown-ups can make their own decisions and even show restraint when necessary. God help us if we ever live under a law like that because the “well I only acted because so-and-so did xyz to me first” would go all the way back to Adam and Eve. Good grief.

      Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:34pm

      A real man would have said to the kid, I don’t want to room with you. You make me uncomfortable. To secretly video someone not doing anything Illegal stinks. The only thing is, I thought Gays are Proud to be Gay.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:45pm

      Well good, I hope your daughter gets secretly filmed doing something private and it ends up on Youtube. You and I both will then be happy about it. The kid that killed himself was in his own room as well and should have a reasonable expectation that he wasn’t being filmed. Just because you may be repulsed by what the kid was doing, he has the right to do it in the privacy of his room without it being broadcast through the airwaves. Now if he‘s out in public it’s all fair game.
      The Indian kid deserves jail time for secretly filming and broadcasting this stuff, not for what the gay kid did to himself.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • BonnieBlueFlag
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:00pm

      Well, good, I hope you get raped by Cthulhu. Let’s see if our hopes mean jack squat.

      Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:09pm

      The camera was placed opposite the bed in full view of whoever was on the bed.-is my understanding.No hidden camera-but posting it on the web is where he crossed the ethical line but how that is illigal? i feel sorry for him-it was a prank and nothing more and i don’t think there was malicious intention behind it.he has a nice decent face and to ruin his life over a sex prank is horrible.The gay guy was a self hating gay guy and of course it’s horrible he killed himself-he attempted suicide prior to this though. What is a right to privacy?-in constituional and legal terms between individuals[as oppossed to government or other agencies]i don’t buy there is a right to privacy between two free individuals.If hidden cameras are illigaland that was not a hidden camera they he did not violate that law.The web is a public bulletin board -as i see it.If i share a room with you and take a picture of you and put it on the web -it may be unethical but how is that illigal?

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:37pm

      It should be illigil to be as stupid as u. He looks much like the Sand Arabs you drool over so much.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • izukiddin
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:12pm

    Ten years for teasing your roommate? Are you kidding? How much time would Ravi gotten if Tyler had been a better swimmer?

    Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 4:13pm

      No one swims away from a dive off the GW. But if Clementi had taken pills, you would probably never have heard of him and Ravi would be walking around free today.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:11pm

    Hate crimes are unconstitutional. Period. When did hate become illegal? That’s like the new dreaded word. “You’re a hater”! Christians Beware! This was contived to use against us. Look at Canada’s hate crime laws. It is now illegal for pastors in Canada to preach out of certian portions of the Bible! And some have been prosecuted. Don‘t think the Left isn’t dying to get the same laws here! It is not illegal to hate. It is illegal to commit crimes because of your hatred. Imagine if child sex offenders fight laws restricting them from parks and schools because they are based solely on “hate”. They would be correct. I hate them. But it’s still illegal for me to shoot them. This “hate crime” stuff is scary if you love freedom.

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:14pm

      If he were a muslim you guys would be going crazy demonizing him.i do have a problem with these hate crime laws as they appear to criminalize thought and beliefs.alot of members of groups protected- by hate- crime statutes- can be obnoxious and push peoples buttons who are not in a protected class. when the person reacts they cry victim. i’m not saying that about this case but that is a problem with hate crime protected status laws .

      Report Post »  
  • KOCHLEFFEL
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:53pm

    Deport him to India, that saves us money and he will have lots of opportunities to video tape the mess in his own country. We have plenty trouble makers we do not need foreigner to participate in hate crimes.

    Report Post »  
    • BonnieBlueFlag
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:05pm

      Why don’t *you* go back to 1984. “Hate crimes” are thought crimes you totalitarian pig.

      Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:52pm

    All hate crime laws need to be repealed. They’re nothing more than thought crimes.

    Report Post »  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:50pm

    Set up a webcam = get 10 years in prison.

    Murder an unborn baby = get a pat on the back for exercising your “reproductive rights.”

    America sucks.

    Report Post »  
  • cessna152
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:50pm

    I could see the jury find him guilty of “invasion of privacy”, but “hate crime”? What the heck is that? There is no such thing…either it‘s a crime or it isn’t. If it were a Christian man that killed himself because was caught having sex outside of marriage, this would be chalked up as “suicide” and case closed. See, the laws are so vague they can twist them anyway they want….Now we are a nation of men and not laws.

    Report Post » cessna152  
    • barber2
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:03pm

      Good points all. The new Hate Crime label is just another example of legal over-reach by the Far Left lawyers/ law makers who fill our congress. Also in legal over-drive is the use of the Discrimination Card by our Far Left Democrats who used it to push through loans to the ” poor/ minorities“ because they were being ” discriminated against.” Wow, those loans sure worked out swell. The Far Left Democrats are ruining our economy and turning us into a Third World country – by over- playing the Discrimination Card.

      Report Post »  
  • cemerius
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:48pm

    Heaven forbid this was a video of a hetrosexual room mate, that committed suicide after being filmed with a “fat chick”!!!! The added caveat to this BS is the fact it was a “gay student” well, in the closet that is!! Hate Crimes DO NOT exist!!! ALL crime is hate!! Remeber when Justice was blind and treated EVERYONE the same? I would have convicted this POS as well but the added caveat is another nail in the sign of “social justice”!!! If your gonna be gay come out of the closet it’s normal after all? Right? If, you are embarassed and secretive IT MUST be something that is wrong and you shouldn’t be doing it!!! Wow, look at that I stated some ideas and didn’t quote chapeter or verse one time!!!

    Report Post » cemerius  
    • Mark0331
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 4:14pm

      Perfectly stated…

      Report Post » Mark0331  
    • flitetym
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 5:45pm

      I kinda, sorta disagree with you that all crime is hate. A “crime” exists only because a defendant has lost in the court of public opinion. Therefore, “hate” is a term defined by the politically ingenious.

      Report Post »  

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