Dharun Ravi found guilty of hate crimes for spying on gay Rutgers roommate

A former Rutgers University student who spied on the sexual tryst of his roommate, who later committed suicide, was found guilty of hate crimes on Friday in a case that put a national spotlight on gay bullying.Dharun Ravi, 20, faces the possibility of 10 years in prison for using a webcam to watch roommate Tyler Clementi with another man in their dormitory room on Sept 19, 2010.

Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge three days later, after learning Ravi and others had watched him through the computer-mounted camera.

Ravi was found guilty on all 15 counts, including two counts of bias intimidation which are hate crimes that carry possible 10-year prison sentences, and lesser crimes of invasion of privacy and witness and evidence tampering.

As Ravi listened to the verdicts, he covered his mouth with his hand. His eyes widened, and he began to blink rapidly.

To convict Ravi of bias intimidation, Judge Glenn Berman had told jurors they needed to decide if Ravi singled out Clementi because he was gay.

The jury of seven women and five men deliberated 12 hours over three days.

Ravi was not charged in Clementi’s death.

He will be sentenced on May 21 in Middlesex County, New Jersey Court.

By Jonathan Allen and Aman Ali

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey (Reuters) – (Editing By Ellen Wulfhorst and Vicki Allen)

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