N.J. prosecutors may appeal 30-day sentence in Rutgers webcam case

Update: New Jersey prosecutors say they may appeal the 30-day jail sentence handed out to the former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his gay roommate, Tyler Clementi, who ended up committing suicide.

Update, 3:30 p.m.

A judge in New Brunswick, N.J., Monday also gave Dharun Ravi three years’ probation and ordered him to pay $10,000 to help hate crime victims. He is not recommending Ravi’s deportation to India, where he is a citizen.

Ravi was convicted of invasion of privacy, anti-gay intimidation, and trying to cover his tracks by destroying text messages and tweets and tampering with a witness. He faced up to 10 years behind bars.

Judge Glenn Berman berated Ravi for the attempted cover-up — and for never apologizing.

The Clementi and Ravi families spoke at the sentencing but not afterward. Ravi did not address the judge.

1 p.m.

The former Rutgers University student convicted of bias intimidation for using a webcam to see his roommate and another man kissing days before the roommate committed suicide is getting a 30-day jail term and then probation.

A judge sentenced 20-year-old Dharun Ravi on Monday.

Ravi’s roommate, Tyler Clementi, was held up as a symbol of what bullying can do to young gays. He killed himself in September 2010 by jumping off the George Washington Bridge.

Advocates for Ravi have protested the idea that he could be sent to prison for years for what they see as a misguided decision — but one that may not have been linked to Clementi’s suicide.

A jury convicted Ravi in March of all 15 criminal counts he faced.