Conviction Of Man Who Filmed Tyler Clementi May Be Thrown Out, Report Says

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - A three-judge panel will rule on whether a judge overstepped his authority when he sentenced Dharun Ravi to 30 days in prison for filming an intimate encounter Tyler Clementi, his Rutgers University roommate, had with another man in 2011.

The panel could invalidate or lengthen the sentence or order that a new trial be held, The New York Daily News reported.

A ruling is expected in three to four months, the report said.

Clementi killed himself after finding out about the filming by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. His parents, Joe and Jane, created the Tyler Clementi Foundation, which works to address bullying and issues gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people face.

Ravi was convicted on 15 counts of bias intimidation and invasion of privacy charges for filming a series of webcam spying incidents involving Clementi. He served 20 days in the Middlesex County Jail in 2012 and was released on “good behavior.”

Prosecutors appealed the sentence, stressing in court papers they believe Ravi should have served hard time, as the statutes recommend five to 10 years of prison time.

Dharun Ravi/Patch file photo

Related: With ‘Good Behavior,’ Dharun Ravi Released From Jail

Related: Tyler Clementi’s Parents Launch New Campaign To End Bullying