Former Rutgers student convicted in webcam case
A former Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate's love life has been convicted of several charges of bias intimidation and invasion of privacy in a case that exploded into the headlines when the victim of the snooping committed suicide.
Dharun Ravi, 20, shook his head slightly after the guilty verdicts were read for all 15 counts, including bias intimidation - a hate crime that was based on the victim's sexual orientation - and invasion of privacy.He could get 10 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.
A jury found that he used a webcam to spy on roommate Tyler Clementi and that he did it - and told others about it - because of a bias against gays.
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.
The case attracted national attention after Clementi committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge days after the incident in September 2010. Ravi was not charged in his roommate's death.
He is scheduled to be sentenced May 21.
AP wires contributed to this report.
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