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Dharun Ravi Found Guilty In Rutgers Webcam Spying Trial

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Dharun Ravi in court on Friday, March 16, 2012 (credit: CBS 2)

Dharun Ravi in court on Friday, March 16, 2012 (credit: CBS 2)

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) Dharun Ravi, a former Rutgers student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate who later committed suicide, was found guilty of invasion of privacy and bias intimidation.

WCBS 880′s Levon Putney In New Brunswick


The jury reached a split verdict during its third day of deliberations in the Rutgers webcam spying trial.

Ravi shook his head as the verdict was read. The jury found he used a webcam to spy on his roommate Tyler Clementi in Sept. 2010 and that he did it and told others about it because of a bias against gays.

1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg With More On The Verdict


Each bias intimidation charge included five questions. A finding of guilty on any of them made Ravi guilty of the entire charge.

The jury issued a split verdict on those subquestions, finding him not guilty on some sub parts of some counts, but guilty of all 15 counts as a whole.

It found, for example, that Ravi did not try to intimidate Clementi’s romantic partner, identified in court only as M.B., and that Clementi reasonably believed Ravi was trying to intimidate him because of his sexual orientation. It split over whether Ravi knowingly or willfully intimidated Clementi because of his sexuality.

Ravi was also found guilty of witness and evidence tampering, attempted invasion of privacy and hindering apprehension or prosecution.

LINK: Full Breakdown of Decisions Posted on NJ.com.

“They didn’t find necessarily that he hates gays, but they found that the victims felt intimidated because they were gay,” explained legal analyst and attorney Mark Furnish. “It’s complicated and it’s an unsettled area of the law and I think there will be fertile grounds for an appeal in the case.”

Kashad Leverett of South Amboy is the same age as the defendant he judged. He said the evidence showed Ravi acted with intent.  He said there was very little argument during the deliberations and no one considered the spying to be an innocent prank.

“It wasn’t a typical jury where you see people arguing and everything,” Leverett told CBS 2′s Lou Young.

Days after the spying took place, Clementi committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. Ravi was not charged with causing Clementi’s death.

Outside the courthouse after the decisions were read, Clementi’s father, Joe, addressed himself to college students and other young people, saying: “You’re going to meet a lot of people in your life. Some of these people you may not like. Just because you don’t like them doesn’t mean you have to work against them.”

WCBS 880′s Peter Haskell: Joe Clementi Said Watching The Trial Was Painful


“We were here every day because wanted to be here for our son, and because we believed this trial was important because it dealt with important issues for our society and for our young people today,” Joe Clementi said on Friday.

He is asking young people to be tolerant and to speak up if they see something they know is wrong.

“You can make the world a better place. The change you want to see in the world begins with you,” he said.

Clementi’s family has created a foundation to prevent teen suicide and develop anti-bullying programs.

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.

Steven Goldstein, chairman of the gay rights activist group Garden State Equality, said he believes the verdict sends an important message.

“We do believe that this verdict shows that a ‘kids will be kids’ defense is no excuse for bullying,” he said. “This is an important verdict in the interest of sending a powerful signal that bullying is unacceptable, period.”

Rutgers also issued a statement after the verdict that said: “This sad incident should make us all pause to recognize the importance of civility and mutual respect in the way we live, work and communicate with others.”

The most serious charges, 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 would be 10 years.

Ravi’s sentencing is set for May 21.

Please share your thoughts below…

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View Comments
  • Joe R

    And the source of your expertise? Did you, perhaps, take a walk on the wild side? Do you have something you want to share–or perhaps something you desperately DON’T want to share? Not that it matters either way–that is the point.

    Not for the last time, sadly, there is no agenda. That is a tired old song hauled out to marginalize *every* minority group being persecuted since time immemorial, whether it is a racial, religious or in this case a sexual minority. Same song, no difference. The words in every case are the same: freedom, equality. No more than everybody expects for themselves; no more than we demanded when we made this country our own nearly 250 years ago.

    Being so quick to judge when you haven’t walked the ground of those you are judging puts you at great moral hazard. Remember that when you judge, you open yourself up to being judged. That kind of scrutiny can be withering.

    • Joe R

      This was supposed to be a Reply to Littlestar’s message of 3/16 at 7:29pm. I’m not sure why it was left as a new message; it makes no sense that way. Perhaps it can be moved or…?

      • littlestar

        Hi Joecito ! I submitted a response but your friend at CBS chose not to let it through. No new news there. Luv ya !

  • Common Sense

    The fact of the matter is that marriage is between a man and a woman. IF you think differently, which you are entitled to do, then so be it.
    The church and the government(any government) never intended to protect sod omy. People are more understanding now but you cannot liken the love of a man and women to that of two men…its just not the same. In fact the latter is filthy and will be the focus of a severe backlash if you don’t shut up.

  • sick of NYC

    Gay jews prevail once again.

    • Amused but not misled

      No. The moralis: The squeaky whack job gets the grease.

      But for his tragic and EXTREMELY dramatic suicide, no one would care. Gay has little to do with this. If he was having sex with a woman we’d still be here.

      What a crock of exploited and misleading crap we’ve been sold by the media here.

      .

  • mkjmkjlk

    this smug prick got what he deserved

    • ???

      mkjmkjlk You must be both gay and a hater.Every comment I’ve seen from you is negative.Everyone is entitled to their opinion,weather you like it or not! Stop the hate

  • littlestar

    Everyone is missing the point of this. The real issue is suicide. Why is this so taboo anyway? Why can’t we move on and progress as a culture and embrace “mortality determination “. ?

    • Amused but not misled

      Never mind the instability of the victim.

      It’s not taboo. It’s speaking ill of the dead- that’s why.

  • Glenn Erdmann

    GET THE SOAP ! ! !

    • Vina Sestonari

      Um, the line is “Don’t bend over to pick up the soap”. Not “Get the soap!”

      Kids these days can’t even tell a sodomy joke properly!

  • truth

    If Clementi would have went on a shooting spree would Ravi be charged?

    • littlestar

      Awsome !

  • truth

    Its unfair to just blame Ravi

  • rose

    I remember walking in on my roommate having sex. She was having sex with a heterosexual male but it was still very awkward. I am not saying what he did was right was 10 years is a bit harsh. My heart goes out to his parents. He is a jerk I agree but his parents don’t deserve to suffer the humiliation and hatred.

    and what about Clementi? was he on depression meds? his conversations doesn’t seem like that of a normal teenager. Perhaps he committed suicide because his mother rejected him? There probably was several reasons. Its unfair to just blame Ravi

    Rutgers? they have nothing in common yet u assigned them to be roommates. Ina way you caused this!!

    • Lisa

      I can’y believe you’re blaming the school for causing this. Seriously?? You have problems lady. Get some help. This guy knew what he was doing and he needs to pay the consequences. It’s message boards like this that shows me the ignorance and stupidity of the society we live in.

      • Lisa’s mom

        Lisa you know that Ravi is innocent.

        No one can blame him for having a perverted roommate

        • Joe R

          Apparently, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

          Are you one of “them” that talks about “compassion” all the time but doesn’t have a coherent idea about what the word actually means? Let me help: when someone commits suicide, you reach inside and find that feeling of concern and empathy (that’s an even deeper word; we won’t go there) for another, *without regard* for who or what they are. They are in pain–that is sufficient. Isn’t that a better lesson–or is it example?–for your daughter than the one you set with your response which struck me as hateful? Unless… (did I somehow miss the announcement?) were YOU appointed the ultimate judge on what is and what isn’t “perverted?” Really? Because you have to realize that modern medicine and science has a different view–at least “officially” since 1987–on what constitutes “perverted.” In my humble opinion, it’s calling other people perverts when they are different than I am or act differently than I believe they ought to act–but what do I know… Hmmm, is it *possible* to pick and choose who you are going to treat with compassion without being a hypocrite? Isn’t it an all or nothing deal? Just food for thought.

          • littlestar

            You kinda rambled on that one dude.

  • Manny

    Poor kid, he goes away to school, the school sticks him in the same room with a homo, now his life is ruined.

    • Amused but not misled

      Poor little rich kid. A life of privlege

      IRONICALLY
      Ravi may spend 24 x 7 on camera huimself now in Rahway or off Route 78 on Newark.

  • lorenzo

    I cant for understand this case for the life of me. i really can’t. I am saddened that this young man was pushed to the pint to where he thought that he had no other choice but I cannot understand how this dot head was convicted on all counts. I really can’t.

    • mkjmkjlk

      maybe u should try something called “following the trial”…nah thats too hard for you

    • harry0

      You are an ignorant jerk

  • Gladys Kravitz

    Well, 10 years at Camp Pokahinee and a return ticket to India seems like a fair sentence. Boy I hope kids who cyber-bully other kids are paying attention.

    • Sappy

      I hope more gays jump from more bridges

      • ANGEL

        YOU ARE A CRUEL PERSON__WHY DONT YOU JUMP??

    • Nancy P

      Those who cry about bully’s are just the weak links in our species. clementi was weak

  • Joy-Ann R

    He’s a sociopath.

    He has no regard for others — including their privacy. He also has no empathy. He fits the profile of a sociopath. The way I see it … one down about 10,000,000 more to go, at least here in the U.S..

    At least if he’s where he belongs behind bars, he can’t violate the hundreds of other victims he would have eventually sought out. Hundreds of innocent people will be spared whatever horrible act he would have felt like doing to them. ALL sociopaths have hundreds of victims throughout their lives. Sometimes it’s just a matter of using or scamming someone and they eventually can recover from the pain and anguish. But, sociopaths get their ‘fix ‘by doing horrid, awful things to others … while appearing perfectly innocent and staying within the law. That’s how a sociopath gets their ‘high’.

    If Tyler didn’t commit suicide no one would even know about his torment and pain and the humiliation he suffered. Actually, with sociopaths, that’s usually how it goes down. They victimize and bully and the victim suffers in silence.

    Their insidious bullying goes undetected and stays under the legal radar — at least most of the time. Like I said, hundreds of other people he would have encountered and worked with in the future would have suffered from some horrid event he would have caused. He doesn’t have a conscience.

    Most sociopaths don’t rape, molest children or murder, some do but many don’t — just victimize and torment others in a wide variety of hard-to-prove ways. They each have their own types of victimization that they like best. Actually, most don’t commit major crimes so they harm or torment people in ways that won’t involve serving jail time. Most of them victimize people every day, while staying within the law and while their victims suffer in silence with nowhere to go for help.

    • littlestar

      ” …hundreds ofother victims “. ???? What planet are you on ? Clementi was the dagerous one.

    • Gladys Kravitz

      What he did was wrong. I just think he’s bully who did not think there would be consequences. The legal system is behind the times with regards to the internet and social media. It’s good to see they are starting to catch up a little. Cases like this are heart breaking.

    • Nyc

      Yeah you should the second of the 10,000,000 to go next. Sicko.

    • Joe R

      Nail. Head. SMACK!

      (I’m accused of leaving over-long messages. Not this time… )

  • David Ruffin

    Ravi = guilty of being a nasty ass sleazebag. However…….I dare the Clementi’s to finally address the fragility of their disturbed son – they raised him, they did not recognize his homosexuality. They did not fully support him emotionally when he came out before he left for Rutgers. They are the parents, they are the ones who are supposed contribute to the “backbone” that their son has, gay, straight, bi or otherwise. No suicide, no trial here, we all know that. This public trial isn’t just a message for the futures Ravi’s of the world. It should also be a message for the parents of 18 year olds who think suicide is an answer to their problems.

  • NYCsewer

    sex in a dorm room by two dudes yuck..one less homo is a good thing

    • wayfarer

      i am not pro gay but arse holes like u should die slow painfully horrible deaths

  • littlestar

    This verdidt will turn the majority against homosexuals and those who choose to be that way. SO SAD. luv ya !

    • Kevin

      I could not agree more, I tend to think I am progressive when it comes to these gay rights issue but boy-o-boy these gay groups are like spoiled kids(nothing pacifies them, they want it now and want more). I am at a point where I am thinking about how to stop this non-sense.

  • truth

    we’ve all been ashamed of our actions,or bullied.Yet we are still here.commiting suiicide is a COWARDS way out. Nobody to blame but himself

    • Nyc

      Exactly

      • mkjmkjlk

        truth and nyc def belong together

        • truth

          so do you and Clementi

  • Liberals are Evil

    Ravi should not be going to jail. If that homo would have kept his sick conduct to himself, he wouldn’t have jumped off a bridge!

    • littlestar

      OOOOO-RAH !

  • littlestar

    Sacco and Vanzetti. Bruno Richard Hauptman. Dharun Ravi.

  • littlestar

    THIS MAN WAS LYNCHED !

  • Jon P.

    Maybe you should jump off a bridge and spare all of us your bias, pitiful ideology.

    • Rock

      Jon p. please stop touching little boys

      • Liberals are Evil

        John P, you are obviously a sick homo!

    • Liberals are Evil

      John,

      I bet the P is for prick. You are obviously a sick homo!

  • Kerrie Butler

    Amen…………

  • lulu

    So if he hadn’t jumped off the bridge no case no verdict. The purity of association. The omnipotence of myth and society and fate.

  • Bubba’s Waiting For You Sweetie!!!!

    BIG BIFF BUBBA GONNA INDUCT HIM INTO THE PRISON FRATERNITY. HE SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE IF HE DROPS THE SOAP IN THE SHOWER, HE DOESN’T BEND OVER TO PICK IT UP!

    • Anonymous

      Um, Indians are ugly and dirty? And I suppose american rednecks smell of lavender and look like celestials? Beer, trailer-trash, red-faced and pot-bellied is more like it. Not to mention stupid, if they think slumdog millionaire, big bang theory and Punjabi culture alone is all of India.

      Grow up, moron.

  • lynn taylor

    If you hide in a closet and jump out to scare your friend…that’s funny……but if he’s gay and dies of a heart attack, it’s a hate crime and you’ll do 20 years…welcome to the fascist socialist states of Liberal America.

    • Sam

      @ Lynn Taylor, he was not found guilty of killing his roomate (I would not call this guy a friend). He was charged with invasion of privacy and bias intimidation. I don’t think you would saying this if it were you or your child being video taped having an intimate moment with their lover and having her roomate post it on the internet. This verdict should send a good message to everyone about the consequences of the things they do.

      • john

        Agreed, this was way beyond just playing around with a friend, though I doubt he intended the resulting out come. The internet is a powerful medium, if you put something up it potential is broadcast to everyone you know or are connected with in a few moments. At a minimum it was thoughtless and cruel. A message needs to be sent.

      • Amused but not misled

        IT WAS NEVER NEVER NEVER POSTED ON Internet.

        That’s Press bulls*t that the press manufactured – it never happened.

    • burstlp1958

      facist? socialist? don’t use words you don’t really know the meaning of–socialism is an economic sharing concept and facism is inapplicable here as well–

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