A former Indian-American student of a US university in New Jersey now faces more serious charges in a webcam spying case that resulted in the suicide of his roommate.
As a result, Dharun Ravi, 19, might end up spending more time in prison than earlier believed.
The trial of
Ravi, who earlier turned down a plea deal, is scheduled to begin February 21.
A former student of the Rutgers University, Ravi is accused of using a webcam to spy over his roommate's intimate encounter with another man in September 2010.
His roommate Tyler Clementi committed suicide a few days later.
In a 15-count indictment before a New Jersey court, the crime was earlier listed as a third-degree charge, but federal prosecutors on Wednesday told the court this was a mistake and that Ravi now faces a charge of second degree crime.