The Alternative Press

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Reactions were mixed today at the sentencing of Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers student who videotaped his roommate, Tyler Clementi, during a sexual encounter with another man on September 19, 2010, and, later posted about it on Twitter (click here to view Ravi’s Twitter posting).

The distraught Clementi, age 18, jumped from the George Washington Bridge only days later after learning of the breach of his privacy, and checking Ravi’s Twitter feed a minimum of 37 times before leaping to his death.

Ravi was sentenced to thirty days in Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center beginning at 9am on May 31, as well as 300 hours of community service, with a focus on cyberbullying and alternate lifestyles programs. Additionally, Ravi was ordered to pay a $10,000 assessment to the probation department.

“I don’t think he received any incarceration for the more serious charges, which renders it meaningless from a penalty standpoint,” said Richard Pompelio of the New Jersey Crime Victims’ Law Center, who is also a columnist with The Alternative Press. “If you can do all of this, and the worst you’ll get is three years, there’s probably not a deterrent factor to it."

The Middlesex County Courthouse overflowed with members of the public and the media, lining up outside in the cold rain before 7:30am, and making their way upstairs to Judge Glenn Berman’s second floor courtroom. The crush of video cameras from major news networks pushed its way through the corridor as the Clementi and Ravi families both separately arrived to the courtroom.

The sentencing hearing for Ravi, now 20, was piped into standing room only rooms adjacent to the courtroom.

The proceedings began shortly after 9am, where Ravi’s counsel, as well as the prosecutors presented their final arguments. Prior to arguments, Berman said he had “an accumulation of letters from all over the country” he had received over the last few months. Berman said petitions to pardon Ravi had been sent to President Barack Obama, and Governor Chris Christie.

“Intending no criticism whatsoever, I hope these people understand the petition sent to the White House has no legal consequences whatsoever,” Berman said. ”Presidential Pardons are only with offenses against the United States. Neither Barack Obama nor anyone else can issue a pardon for a state offense. I can’t comment anything for Governor Christie, who has that type of power.”

Ravi’s attorney, Phillip Netti, requested a motion for acquittal, claiming Ravi did not show images to anyone, and he was “not in the room”, and former Rutgers student, Molly Wei was the one who broadcast the images, thus negating the invasion of privacy charges.

“There was no evidence at trial there was anything more than mere preparation,” said Netti.

Netti also described his client’s acts not as a “purposeful standard” but a “reckless standard”, for the bias counts, indicating his intent was not to intimidate Clementi, and also asked for an acquittal on the bias intimidation charges.

Berman expressed he was more than fair in his handling of the case, especially after Netti said he wanted a new trial because the judge did not remind jurors the suicide was not part of the case.

“The defense made a conscious choice not to remind me to remind the jury about the suicide,” Berman shot back.

First Assistant Prosecutor Julia McClure also presented her arguments.

“The facts presented here to this jury should stand,” McClure said.

Berman addressed accusations made by Netti, and Steven Altman, Ravi’s other attorney, that he “coddled” M.B., the man who was videotaped with Clementi.

“M.B. was treated no differently than any other witness in this case,” said Berman.

He also explained how he coupled many of the charges.

“At every fork in the road, I actually ruled for the defense said Berman of the 15 criminal charges, which were comprised of charges of bias intimidation (a hate crime), invasion of privacy, and evidence tampering.

The victims in the case were able to voice their upsets, including M.B. (read by Pompelio), and Clementi’s father Joseph, mother Jane, and brother James. Ravi’s parents Ravi Pazhani, and Sabitha Ravi, also had their time to speak.

“I believe that Mr. Ravi exploited my budding and meaningful relationship with Tyler in his vain attempt to gain attention and popularity with others,” Pompelio read on M.B.’s behalf. “When I found out what he had done, I was devastated; not only about Tyler’s death but also that I was secretly placed under a microscope for the sole amusement of Mr. Ravi and his friends.”

M.B. said the pain has not diminished for him, yet, intensified. Yet, he expressed no malice towards Ravi, and did not want to see him deported.

“I just want him to acknowledge what he has done wrong, and take responsibility for his conduct,” said M.B.

“While I bear no anger towards Mr. Ravi, after much thought and many sleepless nights, I must say that Mr. Ravi should serve some type of confinement so that he can reflect on the serious harm he has caused,” M.B. continued in the statement. “I do not believe he has taken responsibility for his conduct, and to this day he seems to blame me for the actions he took…I do not mind that Mr. Ravi has never apologized to me for what he did and said, but I do wonder if it has ever entered his mind that he caused me a great deal of pain, and yet he knows nothing about me.”

“We are seeking justice and accountability, not revenge,” said father Joseph Clementi. “Punishment should be appropriate, but fair, while it doesn’t have to be harsh, it should provide accountability.”

“Tyler never did anything to Mr. Ravi,” Joseph Clementi explained. “My son was below him because he was gay. He did it without a thought or consideration for Tyler, and he did it in a cold and calculating manner.”

“My brother was so excited and looking forward to going to school,” said James Clementi. “He couldn’t have known the viper’s nest he was walking into.”

“It does not absolve him from the responsibility of the human being he broke down,” James Clementi continued. “Dharun never cared about the damage he was doing to my brother’s heart and mind. My family has never heard an apology.”

“Tyler and myself were very connected, and I felt a piece of me had died in September 2010,” said Jane Clementi, his mother.

She asked why Ravi simply did not request a roommate change.

“Why didn’t anyone speak up and stop it?” she asked, her voice breaking.

And Jane Clementi considered the possibility that the Twitter message was the final thing Clementi looked at before his death.

Ravi’s attorneys described their client as “being demonized”.

Ravi’s father Ravi Pazhani said, “Ever since, our life has changed”, and told the Clementi Family, “You will always be in our thoughts and prayers.”

Ravi’s father said Ravi was not raised in a homophobic atmosphere.

His mother, Sabitha Ravi, broke down into sobs while on the stand, wiping her eyes with a tissue. Ravi himself became tearful, and also began wiping his eyes, as his mother seated herself next to him. She said the family came to the United States when Ravi was small, with only two suitcases. He knew little English then, and she described him as a “very enthusiastic learner”.

She said the media has been “ripping him apart”.

“For the last two years, my 20 year old son has too much burden on his shoulders,” she said.

As she took her seat, Sabitha Ravi continued to weep loudly.

When Berman took back the courtroom, he addressed Ravi, and noted, “I haven’t heard you apologize once, and the letter you gave to the pre-trial attorney was unimpressive.”

“The person who described your conduct best isn’t here,” Berman said. “Tyler Clementi described it as ‘wildly inappropriate’. I redacted it from the jury, but I didn’t redact it from myself. Your conduct was mean-spirited, malicious and criminal. There was no mention of M.B., as if he never existed.”

“Now you can appreciate how Tyler Clementi and M.B. felt,” Berman surmised of the frenzy the case has received.

“You can expunge this judgment, but not the conduct and pain you caused,” Berman said.

Berman clarified Ravi did not commit a hate crime, but a bias crime.

He said he was aware the sentence would not please either side.

But Berman said, “I’m not sure how the Clementi’s will get total closure given the passing of their son, And having said that, I have assured the defense I am mindful of the fact that this defendant is not charged with causing or contributing to their son’s passing, but I don’t know how they’ll ever get closure.”

The attorneys for the prosecution, and defense have both reportedly planned to appeal the sentence.