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Article IndexBY ANASTASIA MILLICKER
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Dharun Ravi kicked the garbage can outside the Middlesex County Courthouse as he headed toward his car Friday after being found guilty of most major charges, including bias intimidation and invasion of privacy, which each carry jail time.
In December 2011, Ravi was offered a plea deal which would have kept him out of jail and would have attempted to prevent his deportation back to India, but Steven Altman, Ravi's attorney, said his client was innocent. But now Ravi faces up to 10 years in prison and possible deportation.
Altman told The Star Ledger he would be requesting an appeal.
In two separate incidents during September 2010, Ravi, a former Rutgers University student, used a webcam that automatically accepted phone calls to spy on his roommate, Tyler Clementi and another male, known only as M.B., in Room 30 of Davidson Hall C on Busch campus in Piscataway.
Clementi, 18, jumped off the George Washington Bridge on Sept. 22, 2010 after finding out about the alleged spying incidents.
The jury, consisting of seven women and five men, deliberated on 35 questions related to 15 counts, including charges of invasion of privacy and bias intimidation. After three days of deliberation, the jury came to a verdict.
The Verdict
Of those 35 questions, 24 were answered with a guilty verdict.
Ravi remained poker faced as the court clerk read through each count and charge.
In Count 1, Ravi was found guilty for the invasion of Tyler Clementi and M.B.'s privacy. This count stems from the night of Sept. 19, 2010, when Ravi allegedly viewed Clementi and M.B. “making out” on his friend Molly Wei’s computer. This is a fourth degree charge which could carry up to 18 months in jail for each charge.
In Count 2, Ravi was found guilty of bias intimidation for the Sept. 19 Invasion of Privacy.Ravi was found to have committed the offense of privacy invasion under the circumstance that caused Clementi to be intimidated, and it was reasonably believed that Clementi was selected to be the target of the offense because of sexual orientation.
He was not guilty of committing the offense of invasion of privacy to intimidate Clementi or M.B. because of their sexual orientation or of comitting the offense knowing the conduct constituting invasion of privacy would cause Clementi or M.B. to be intimidated because of their sexual orientation.
In Count 3, Ravi was charged with a second count of invasion of privacy of both M.B. and Clementi during sexual contact. These charges are third degree charges, which carry a possible three to five years of jail time.
In Count 4, Bias Intimidation, the jury found Ravi guilty of committing the offense of Invasion of Privacy knowing that the conduct constituting the offense would cause Clementi to be intimidated because of sexual orientation and committing the offense with Clementi as a target because of his sexual orientation. These are second-degree bias intimidation charges, which carry a possible 5 to 10 years, according to the New Jersey Court website.
Let’s discuss some issues. If you find it crap (though its not)you have right not to read.
First was media biased?
Did you watch the news wired in year 2010 then we must do that to educate ourselves about media's report WITHOUT having the proof and verifying.they ALL said.that Ravi broadcasted video on INTERNET and online to everyone (How many people have seen that video?) Also, media projected online/internet as.public viewing (by whole world for many hours). Jury also watched that news from 2010 to 2012. Was that in their mind when they made decision of GUILTY? In fact, I was also thinking the video is broadcasted online on YouTube etc. and public can see it.
Let’s ask prosecution these questions:
Ravi was not charged with Tyler's death. Tyler's mother was already upset with him being g*y. Prosecution got easy target of non US citizen.They were offering him hate crime deal, which he didn’t commit.(Prosecution was very bais for Ravi since the beginning, Did wei was offer the pea deal for HATECRIME? Does Ravi has any history of bullying or hate against g*y or anything? Bullying act doesn't come suddenly neither does the hate for G*Y. Also, jury was not clear about the term 'Bias intimidation' how can one say guilty for the term if he/she (or none of us) is not clear about?? (I think judge was also not clear?) Don't make wrong decision when you have a doubt. Prosecution, Is it the real win for you?
For defendant let’s play aggressive (against ALL charges now) like prosecution did.
You have nothing to lose now. (some of questions I mentioned will sound like crap but verdict HATE CRIME ridicule law). Bring all the issues of Tyler’s mother against Tyler being G*Y. Clementi was shy and talented but was he too depressed to be suicidal? His mother’s rejection forced him to be suicidal.Is his mother will allow 35 years (stranger met on internet) to be in Tyler’s bedroom for having sex in their house? Also throw as much as possible even on privacy invasion (Ravi you were really stupid should charge for privacy)Since verdict is wrong (Hate Crime). Did Ravi video Tyler when he was alone or when Tyler's parents, other friends or brother visited him (if not then certainly Ravi respected Tyler's privacy)? Why did Ravi video Tyler ONLY when a 35 years old man came in night? Is M.B a h*** or drug dealer or TERRORIST? As Ravi's privacy was also invade because of M.B .Bring MB..to the media.. As now it’s serious crime and MB is victim of what?? No hiding for Mr. MB now. Get his whole life history, including twits FB etc. Also tell second time Ravi was more suspicious about MB . Ravi was ignorant to complain to University about this incident instead he must have thought let conform first is it drug dealing or something else and then complain. Don’t say Ravi put camera for looking for stuff…SAY suspicious that stranger is hiding WEAPONS in his room. Does Ravi has any history of bullying or hate against g*y or anything? NO!Also texting and twitting saying that he is G*Y/colored/smells, He is making love**/dancing/ jumping, I got the G*Y /Indian/Chinese/African roommate and I am uncomfortable with him etc.doesn’t PROVE that Ravi is Biased for G*Y. Aren't those statements were FACT? BRING EXPERT for hate crime, language interpretation, suicidal thoughts Defendant lawyer/Ravi /Family don’t smile. Lawyer please doesn’t bring irrelevant people to testify (Ravi’s father’s friend).Now you are the Victim and others are defendant! Use all forces nothing to lose!
Disclaimer: I am not responsible if someone commits suicide after reading this comment. I am not against any race, sex, sex orientation, religion ,any species in universe, any type of unknown or known , law (or anything define or undefined ... which will say me bias intimidated)! I don’t hate anyone based on anything (defined /undefined term). I don’t support bullying. I am not responsible for any actions due to this comment
And the prosecutor never proved any hate or any fear-instilling action from Ravi, nor was Clementi ever shown to be afraid of Ravi.
This most troubling aspect was summarized in an excellent headline:
Did Dharun Ravi Commit a Hateless Hate Crime?
What a disgrace.
oh, and kissing = sexual activity!
Insane.