By Megan DeMarco and Alexi Friedman/The Star-Ledger

NEW BRUNSWICK — Former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi was sentenced this afternoon to 30 days in the Middlesex County jail in North Brunswick. Ravi had faced up to 10 years in prison.

Follow along with live coverage here, and be sure to frequently refresh this page for the latest updates.

1:26 p.m. — Moments after the sentence was read in court, Ravi's father's smiled and said he was happy with the sentence when asked by a reporter.

Ravi's parents and friends cried through the pronouncement of the sentence, said one family friend.

"I was sitting next to (the parents). Everybody cried," said Satish Mentani.

He said the family would not comment on the sentence.

"We believe in America. We respect the judicial system. The entire Indian community feels sorry for the loss of the Clementi family," Mentani said.

1:17 p.m. — A team of sheriffs officers escorted Ravi and several relatives from the courtroom, rushing through a crowd of reporters and photographers who followed the young man and his group as he was hustled silently to a nearby parking lot. Ravi refused to respond to repeated questions shouted from the crowd.

"We love you, Ravi," one woman yelled out as the entourage left the court house.

12:53 p.m. — Both sides will appeal, the lawyers said today.

Altman has asked for a stay of the sentence pending appeal. McClure said the state doesn't object because the state will appeal as well.

"I have disenchanted both sides, it is what it is," Berman said. He said he would not be granting a stay, other than the 10 days before Ravi must report to county jail.

The court adjourned at 12:54. Ravi's mother, smiling, hugged Altman.

12:47 p.m. — Ravi will have a three year probation sentence. He will also have to complete 300 hours of community services, and attend a counseling program relative to cyber bullying and alternate lifestyles.

He will also have to pay $10,000 to the probation department. The sum will be allotted to a facility dedicated to victims of bias crimes.

12:41 p.m. — Going count by count, Berman said the first four counts - two invasion of privacy counts and two bias intimidation counts — are straight probation.

He said the counts "do not warrant a prison term," and the legislature did not have this type of behavior in mind when they crafted the bias intimidation charge.

At most, Nettl said, it was accomplice liability, which the judge did not charge. Nettl said Ravi had left the room.

"Dharun Ravi never showed any images of nudity, sexual penetration. He was out of the room, in the shower."

9:27 a.m. — Ravi's lawyer, Philip Nettl begins his motion for acquittal.

"We do believe that a miscarriage of justice occurred here."

9:19 a.m. —There are two overflow rooms with reporters, onlookers and more supporters, mostly Ravi supporters, inside.



Star-Ledger columnist Mark DiIonno is inside the courtroom where the sentencing is taking place but most of the other reporters, if not all, were excluded because there was no space.



The courtroom holds about 100 people, but several seats are being taken up by video crew from truTV, which is broadcasting the sentencing. There are 12 photographers seated in the jury box.

The lawyers and judge are currently at side bar.

9:05 a.m. — Judge Glenn Berman tells the media that there will be a room available for a press conference after sentencing, if anyone wishes to speak to reporters.

He's also holding a thick orange folder with a rubber band, which he said contained an “accumulation of letters from literally all over the country.”

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There are also petitions to President Barack Obama and Gov. Chris Christie asking for a pardon. Berman says the petitions to Obama are "of no legal consequence whatsoever."

"Rightly or wrongly the President of the United States only has the right to pardon people for offenses committed against the United States."

As to Ravi supporters who sought pardon from Gov. Christie, Berman said the governor does have the right to pardon, but:

"I do not comment to anything sent to the governor. It's not before me, it's not my issue."

9:02 a.m. — Judge Glenn Berman enters the courtroom

8:57 a.m. Most reporters waiting outside the courtroom were suddenly shut out and were directed to two other courtroom set up with large screens to show the sentencing as it happens before Judge Glenn Berman.

8:47 a.m. — The Ravi family just walked in to the courtroom with their lawyer, Steve Altman. Altman has his arm around Ravi. The family walked in with about 30 people.

8:43 a.m. — The Clementi family and First Assistant Prosecutor Julia McClure just walked into the courtroom. The Clementi's have about 20 relatives with them.

8:39 a.m. — While more than 50 reporters and photographers line the wall outside the courtroom waiting for the doors to open, a separate two rows of photographers and cameramen and women are lined up next to the courtroom doors, waiting for Ravi and his lawyer to walk down the hall.



8:23 a.m. — A bank of 12 video camera crews are lined up outside courtroom 202, waiting for Ravi and his family to walk in, as a line of reporters and onlookers hoping to get in extends to the end of hallway, all the way to the elevators.

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8:10 a.m. — Dharun Ravi comes out of the elevator to the second floor of the courthouse. His lawyer, Steve Altman, quickly brings his client and family members into a conference room next to the elevator as television camera crews approach.

Middlesex County Sheriff Mildred Scott rushes in with other sheriffs officers to ensure Ravi, dressed in a dark suit, and Altman and their party are not disturbed.

The Clementi family and a few supporters are at the opposite end the the hallway, huddled around the corner from the courtroom.

The media is lined up outside the second-floor courtroom, waiting to get inside.

8:02 a.m. — The Clementi family has arrived at the Middlesex County Courthouse. They are escorted by friends and family members.

7:30 a.m. — The line of people trying to enter the courthouse stretches out on Paterson Street. Most of the people are from the news media. A sheriff's officer is standing outside with a police dog sitting in the steady drizzling rain.

Star-Ledger staff writers Tom Haydon and Sue Epstein contributed to this report.

Complete Dharun Ravi trial coverage