Ex-Rutgers student appeals bullying conviction

(CNN) -- The lawyer for Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers University student found guilty of spying on and intimidating his gay roommate, has filed a notice of appeal, a court official said.

Ravi's roommate, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, killed himself by jumping off New York's George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River after learning Ravi had secretly recorded Clementi's intimate encounter with another man.

The appeal noticed was filed by defense attorney Steven Altman last week, according to a New Jersey Middlesex County Court spokesman.

Ravi, 20, began serving his 30-day jail term on May 31, two days after apologizing in a written statement for spying on Clementi with a webcam.

"I accept responsibility for and regret my thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices that I made on September 19, 2010, and September 21, 2010," Ravi said in the statement.
Prosecutors said after his sentencing last month that they would appeal the 30-day jail sentence imposed by a judge. Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan said it was "insufficient under the sentencing laws of this state, the facts that were determined by a jury and long-standing appellate precedent."