Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers student haunted by his role in the suicide of his roommate Tyler Clementi, still faces charges including invasion of privacy and witness tampering, but today turned down a plea offer that included no jail time. The deal promised Ravi that authorities would attempt to stop his deportation to India, where he’s a citizen, and proposed community service, probation, and counseling as punshment for his surreptitious videotaping of Clementi during a romantic encounter, and the alleged subsequent cover-up. “Simple answer, simple principle,” said Ravi’s lawyer. “He’s innocent. He’s not guilty. That’s why he rejected the plea.” Ravi has a month to reconsider before taking his chances at trial and dragging this thing out longer.
