A former Rutgers University student has finally openly apologized Tuesday for using a webcam to spy on his roommate, who later killed himself, having a sexual encounter with another man, saying he regrets his "thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices."
Dharun Ravi, who was criticized by a judge for neglecting to show much remorse for the incident, also told The Associated Press he is giving up his right to remain free Wednesday while New Jersey prosecutors appeal his 30-day jail sentence.
Because Ravi's sentence is less than a year, it decreases the chances that federal immigration authorities will have him deported to India, where he was born and remains a citizen.
His roommate, Tyler Clementi, a talented violinist, jumped off New York City's George Washington Bridge on Sept. 22, 2010, after learning that Ravi had posted numerous tweets and video regarding his sexual interaction with another man.
His lawyer, Joseph Benedict, told AP Ravi intends to begin doing community service when he's released from jail and will start paying fines Aug. 1. His sentence includes 300 hours of community service and more than $11,000 in court assessments, including $10,000 that will go toward support groups that assist victims of hate crimes.
Ravi told Newark's The Star-Ledger newspaper in an interview conducted before the sentencing but published afterward that he chose not to apologize during the sentencing because he felt it would be perceived as insincere.
On Tuesday, Garden State Equality, New Jersey's largest gay rights group, said it was happy Ravi had publically apologized; however, the timing is questionable.
Garden State Equality has said Ravi deserves more jail time than he received but "nowhere near" the maximum sentence he could have received.
