Woman In Tyler Clementi Case Makes Plea Deal
Molly Wei, one of the two Rutgers University students facing charges in the Tyler Clementi case, could have her criminal record erased as long as she agrees to terms reached in plea bargain yesterday.
ABC News reports on the terms of her plea deal:
"In exchange for help in the prosecution of a fellow student, Dharun Ravi, Wei agreed in court today to join an intervention program that requires her to perform 300 hours of community service over the next three years and undergo counseling for cyberbullying."
Clementi's parents issued a statement: "Actions have consequences. We wish that Ms. Wei will become a person who will make better decisions, will help people, and show kindness to those she comes in contact with."
According to the New York Times, Clementi's parents approved of the lighter punishment for Wei, but not for Ravi:
"They said they favored harsher treatment for their son’s roommate, Dharun Ravi, who has been charged with streaming live images of Mr. Clementi’s intimate encounter with another man from a computer in Ms. Wei’s dormitory room in September."
Ravi, who was handed a 15-count grand jury indictment last month, faces 5 to ten years in prison. He'll be arraigned later on May 23.
What a HUGH load of BULL !
Posted by: Deen | May 7, 2011 9:05:08 AM
I think that is a fair punishment if she is agreeing to testify against Ravi. Ravi is the conspirator here. He set up the cam and made the announcement for people to watch, etc.
What would the punishment have been had Tyler not chosen to take his own life?
Also, where is the guy that Tyler was fooling around with? Would be interesting to hear his thoughts and perspective on the matter.
Posted by: Brian in Texas | May 7, 2011 9:22:00 AM
Ravi is the reason it happened. Wei was just foolish enough not to stop it.
I have no doubt, if they could change that day, along with the rest of us... they would.
Posted by: Pete n SFO | May 7, 2011 9:34:37 AM
The only thing they would want to change is getting caught.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | May 7, 2011 9:45:53 AM
They should have had a sentence for Wei making her record a TV commercial that would be distributed to schools all over the nation.
"Actions have consequences. Don't believe that. We present to you the case of Dharun Ravi."
Posted by: FunMe | May 7, 2011 10:01:27 AM
I think the punishment seems fair. And I'm not sure that even if we believe Ravi was the mastermind of this poorly thought out plan, that I think he deserves prison time for it. For as much as these kids are legally adults, kids in college are just as stupid sometimes as kids in high school. It was a stupid, thoughtless, spiteful prank that sadly went too far. It just seems to have been some brainless idea he got thinking it would be really funny and having no idea how awful it would end up being for Tyler. I think there are other productive things he could made to do than serve prison time for it.
Posted by: Adam | May 7, 2011 10:07:37 AM
It shows a lot of grace on the part of Clementi's family, and is the right thing to do. This was a crime of cruelty, and a fitting punishment is to have the perpetrator (or co-conspirator, in this case) wear her shame publicly and be constantly reminded of it. Locking her up wouldn't make her repent, it would probably only make her worse.
Posted by: NaughtyLola | May 7, 2011 10:11:35 AM
This is good. It'll give Ravi the opportunity to experience first-hand what it feels like to be betrayed by someone who purported to be a friend.
Posted by: Keppler | May 7, 2011 10:39:18 AM
And the prosecutors are praying that Ravi will plead out too, as they know they'll lose on appeal.
Posted by: anon | May 7, 2011 10:44:50 AM
Interesting development. I'm not surprised the Clementi's approved of the plea deal... I don't know anything about Molly Wei, but I'm willing to wager she is genuinely a very kind and smart girl who just got caught in a very bad situation at the wrong time. Nothing compares to the loss of life and trauma, but these are all still young people who society should hope find a better future as time washes the wounds...
Posted by: Eugene | May 7, 2011 10:55:27 AM
If Ravi has to serve prison time, I would support his punishment wholeheartedly because it gives notice to other so-called "pranksters" that this sort of thing will not be tolerated.
One of the things oppressed people (in this case, gay men) do that bothers me is that they often spend time feeling "sorry" for their/our oppressors.
Our heterosexual oppressors do NOT feel "sorry" for us, so why should we feel sorry for them? These creeps are being punished because they CAUSED Clementi's death. They deserve whatever punishment they get.
Posted by: elg | May 7, 2011 11:14:38 AM
Another example of why the gay haters are asking women to stand up against gays...they can get away with it better...
Posted by: alan brickman | May 7, 2011 11:20:30 AM
So now she's throwing her accomplice under the bus. How befitting.
Posted by: Nonplussed | May 7, 2011 11:22:24 AM
Feeling sorry for people that wrong us is what makes us better people in the long run. Wanting to be spiteful and vindictive just continues the cycle, and at a later date it will come back and bite us in the ass.
Posted by: MadM@ | May 7, 2011 11:26:09 AM
I don't like the idea that she gets off like this - seems as if everyone involved needs to be held accountable to send a message....
Posted by: Steve | May 7, 2011 11:38:23 AM
It is "great" to be compassionate to these two, but remember, someone is dead because of these two. A life is gone because of their actions. It wasn't just a prank. It was cruel, it was thoughtless, and it was fatal. A prank is putting salt in the sugar bowl... normally harmless. This was a killing act done to humiliate and deride. I will save my sympathies for those who truly deserve them.
Posted by: Reggie | May 7, 2011 11:42:10 AM
@eugene--you think she's a "very kind and smart girl"?!!! based on what?
Posted by: dh | May 7, 2011 11:48:12 AM
Oddly enough, I blame technology. Fifteen years ago this wouldn't have happened. You have no idea what kids put on the Web today and think it is funny. Think about Vanessa Hudgens and all those other Disney chicks who have their naughty bits spread across the Web.
Youth lack wisdom. They think in the moment. They've been raised on Punk'd, Girls Gone Wild, and all manner of in your face debauchery.
I taught high school and I know I will sound like everyone's grandmother, but...the kids today are less sensitive and a lot of it has to do with the fact that they are shown sex, violence, and cruelty on TV, on the Web, on billboards, everywhere.
What these kids did was awful, cruel, and mean. They were able to accomplish it because of technology.
I'm sorry to say that they are by no means extreme cases, or that this only happens to gay kids. An overweight girl at the HS had her pic taken while changing in the locker room and it ended up on the Web.
I'm going to sound old, but...we're going to hell in a handcart.
Posted by: Rin | May 7, 2011 11:59:24 AM
You blame technology? That's like blaming the gun for doing the shooting. Someone has to aim and pull the trigger you know.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | May 7, 2011 12:04:12 PM
right on, RIN. you're so right.
Posted by: Jeff | May 7, 2011 12:17:09 PM
I wish these two would just commit suicide. Along with the South Hadley 6.
Posted by: Your Mom | May 7, 2011 12:27:44 PM
As a friend of Molly Wei's, I have to comment that she was fairly unaware of Ravi's intentions. The two aren't even friends. He knocked on her door. She recognized him as someone from high school and thought it would be harmless to invite him in because he asked to use her computer. There was no conspiracy between the two, or at least on her part. She could have stopped Ravi, maybe. But keep in mind there are many factors at play. She's a timid girl and finds it hard to stand up for herself or for others. This stems from her culture, her religion, and her upbringing. She's fresh from high school. And the high school she attended isn't exactly full of tough crowds and experiences with which she can develop a thick skin. She's probably never seen death or bullying or abuse or prejudice or anything like that in real life. It's just unfortunate that it happened to her.
What happened to Tyler Clementi is very sad and very unfortunately, but I'm glad at the outcome with Molly. I'm happy that Clementi's parents approved of the lighter punishment.
Posted by: Randy | May 7, 2011 1:09:27 PM
Well that's very interesting Randy. We'll see how this plays out in court when the case is fully argued and ALL the harrasment Clementi faced (the webcam was the climax of a series of incidents)is presented and thoprughly examined.
"They aren't even friends. he knocked on her door"
My, My, MY! just shows who you shouldn't let into your dorm to use your computer. Right folks?
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | May 7, 2011 1:54:49 PM
I no longer think people should be granted plea-bargains or light sentences. One perp gets 10-15 years and will be out on parole in 5, while the other gets 300 hours of "community service" where she'll just sit there texting her girlfriends complaining about the queers she is supposed to be caring about, but doesn't. That is not true justice for the loss of one young man's life, who, by all accounts, had far more to offer the world than these two perpetrators. Given such a light slap on the wrist, justice loses its meaning and these people will neither learn the lesson they should learn nor will their example be an object lesson for others to learn from. If the government throws the effing book at both of them it would at least demonstrate to the LGBT community that the state recognizes that we deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in our nation, including legal protection from this sort of ignorant bigotry.
Posted by: flattopSF | May 7, 2011 2:26:01 PM
@David,
in countries without the proliferation of guns there are less deaths from violent crime. When two people are arguing and there are no weapons, the argument doesn't turn deadly. Guns up the ante and give people choices.
Kids today are inundated with technology, and use it for EVERYTHING. They are also shown images of cruelty, practical jokes, snobbery, superficiality, etc from Nikelodean and Disney. Watch those shows sometimes. The kids in them are rude, surly, shallow, overly sexual for their age groups, etc.
They are desensitized to the plight of the nonpretty and the outcast.
They didn't grow up with Mike Brady, they are growing up with shows where the parents are ancillary to the cast.
They also have texting, Facebooking, Tweeting, Tumbling, Skyping, live video, etc. and web personalities are the popular crowd to the millionth power.
They have been given amazing powers of communication and expression without any discipline or guidance because the generation before didn't have that technology and doesn't know what to say about it.
Live video streaming the Clementi boy is not unusual in this high tech generation. It is commonplace. It is used to torment, to become popular, etc. He wasn't the first, won't be the last.
Sorry, I just see this too much. When I went to high school the worst that would happen is your name was written on a bathroom wall somewhere at school. That bathroom wall is now called Facebook and hundreds of thousands can read it, put pictures and sound to it, etc.
Posted by: Rin | May 7, 2011 3:07:01 PM