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Dharun Ravi, 20, has been found guilty on all counts in the webcam spying case that has made national headlines for the past year.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m. Friday, the jury read the verdict, finding Ravi guilty on charges of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy, attempted invasion of privacy, tampering with physical evidence, witness tampering and hindering apprehension or prosecution, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.
He was found guilty on four bias intimidation counts, but acquitted on some bias charges, NJ.com is reporting.
Ravi will be sentenced on May 21, according to the report.
The Associated Press reports that Ravi could face jail time or possible deportation to India, where he was born, despite living in the U.S. since his childhood.
The case made it to national headlines after Ravi allegedly used a webcam in September 2010 to spy on his former Rutgers University roommate Tyler Clementi.
Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge days after discovering Ravi attempted to view him in a romantic encounter with another man, inviting others to watch at a 'viewing party.' He was not charged with contributing to Clementi's death.
Prosecutors said Ravi set up a webcam on his computer, went to another room and viewed Clementi and the man, identified as M.B., shirtless and kissing. Ravi tweeted about the encounter and days later attempted to film the two again, but Clementi discovered the camera and disabled it.
Ravi later deleted the tweets and was also convicted Friday of witness tampering and attempting to destroy evidence.
The defense on cross examination asked Ravi's dormmates if he'd ever expressed hatred toward gays or Clementi. They responded they did not, though Ravi reportedly told a high school friend his webcam would 'keep the gays away'.
Ravi has not been charged with causing Clementi's death, but the memory of his roommate has hung heavy over the nearly two-week proceedings, which featured testimony from 30 witnesses.
The jury was made aware of the suicide, but prosecutors were not allowed to insinuate that the spying led directly to Clementi's death, the Associated Press reported.
Ravi's attorneys painted his actions as foolish, but not criminal, claiming their client was acting like a kid and not a homophobe.
No comments were given by Ravi, his family, or his attorneys on Friday as they were escorted from the court room.
Tyler Clementi's father Joseph addressed the media after the verdict on Friday, thanking the judge, prosecutor and victim advocacy groups for their involvement.
He said the trial was "painful."
Jack Murray
1:41 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
This smug young man is wholly unrepentant of his own actions, let alone their unintended consequences. Let's pray they deport him when his prison term ends. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Jon Boody
2:00 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
This is a tough one. There was a horrible outcome from this prank, obviously, But, one question to ask is, despite the fact that the jury was instructed to not consider the suicide in their decisions, would he have been put on trial and (we're assuming when he's sentenced) given a prison sentence if there was no suicide? What he did is a fairly common sort of college prank - usually with no ill intent other than the possible embarrasment of the person being watched. Should we be setting a precedent of jail time for people for poking fun of other's activities, even when the majority do find this "poking fun" to be disagreeable?
Linda
2:19 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
What this guy did was wrong on so many levels. He was offered a plea deal and he didn't take it. He should serve his time and then be deported. Intimidation is wrong no matter who is doing it. I am sure Tyler Clementi had been enduring quite a bit of bullying during his short life time. Ravi's intentions were to humiliate Clementi and he had to know it was wrong or he wouldn't have tried to cover his tracks.
Mike M
4:21 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
Rutgers should have been sued and may well be for the blatant lack of security. Why did Rutgers not do something about creepy nonstudent adults in dorm rooms? This is reminiscent of Seton Hall abdicating responsibility for a fire which killed students when then should and now do have springlers in dorms.
Truthteller
8:34 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Sorry Mike as much as you and I may not like it students have rights. They are allowed to bring whoever they want in their room and they are allowed to have sex. Even parents who by law are paying the bills are not allowed to see their childs grades without the student signing a waiver. Rutgers has rules they were followed having someone in your room is not a rule we would want or need. It is very different then Seton Hall where unauthorized people meaning people not invited in the dorm building were there.
Winston
4:37 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
Mike...Ravi should sue the school for being bullied by their anti heterosexual actions. The poor kid complained several times about his roommate bringing strange adults to his room for sex and the school did nothing.
T B
5:48 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
Winston whether he complained or not NO ONE deserves to be embarrassed and humilated like that. What happens if that happened to your son, cousin, friend like it did to Tyler? You would have a completely different opionion. If Ravi didn't like his roommate he should of switched rooms, not humiliate someone!!!! His goal was to embarasse and harrass Tyler and thats just WRONG!!! Ravi got what he deserved to be put away for what happened. Hopefully this shows "kids" what bulling and harassing others can do to them.
Truthteller
8:40 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Another comment that makes no sense. The school is a public school and must address the needs of everyone . When you decide to attend a University you should ask questions about room change and roomate changes. It is very difficult for a University to continue to move people around therefore they have folks that handle matters such as roommate conflict. I did not see anywhere that Ravi took advantage of the residence life programs offered or asked for mediation to resolve the issue. Also when are we going to stop treating adults as children. College students can drive, vote, serve in the miltary. Their parents have no right to grades or medicial records unless a waiver is signed. Along with your rights come your responsibilities
Jack Wagon
9:05 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Hey Winston, TB & middle of the road just proved our theory and are the epitome of "They just don't get it"
Patrick
12:12 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012
At least have the FACTS right. Ravi was never upset that his roommate was having strangers in his room for sex. He stated that he was concerned about his property, and thus why he left the cam on. He said that the visitor was older and creepy. It was in fact Clement who had requested a room change after he learned of a video being viewed.
and BTW, the sex you describe was kissing.
Joe
7:29 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
This is an absolute and complete despicable action taken by Ravi. We need to respect the rights of all human beings. This man deserves the maximum punishment under the law. Justice has been well served.