Somerset County Man Admits Federal Hate Crime in Connection with Breaking into Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University and Destroying Property

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NEWARK, N.J. - A Somerset County, New Jersey, man admitted committing a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life (CILRU) at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and destroying property, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and New Jersey State Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today.

Jacob Beacher, 24, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court on Oct. 9, 2024, to an information charging him with damage to religious property.

"The free exercise of religion is a fundamental right of all Americans. Jacob Beacher admitted he intentionally broke into the Center for Islamic Life during the holy Eid-al-Fitr holiday and damaged and destroyed religious artifacts because of the Islamic faith of those associated with the facility. This office will not tolerate the use of force or threats to intimidate people and put them in fear of worshipping as they see fit."

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger

"This defendant is being held accountable for Islamophobic-fueled acts of hate, interfering with the religious freedom of university students and staff during a sacred holiday for those of the Islamic faith," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department stands ready, along with our state and local partners, to hold accountable people who use force, or threats of violence, in order to intimidate people from exercising their religious beliefs. Islamophobic hate crimes have no place in our society today. We will continue to enforce the laws that make it safe for people of all faiths to engage in religious observance, including at educational institutions."

"When we learned of this vandalism back in April, we immediately engaged with our law enforcement partners and Rutgers University," FBI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado said. "Within days, we tracked down and arrested Beacher. We want our actions and the speed with which we responded to illustrate our commitment and resolve to protect houses of worship in New Jersey. We all have the right to practice whatever religion we choose, without fear of hate marring the physical and spiritual place where we do it."

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On April 10, 2024, during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday, Beacher broke into the CILRU around 2:41 a.m., where he damaged the CILRU's property, including several religious artifacts, such as Turbah prayer stones, which are clay stones on which Muslims prostrate during prayer, and numerous other items that contained holy language from the Qur'an, Islam's sacred scripture. Beacher also stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box belonging to the CILRU. He caused damage and destruction of property in excess of $5,000.

The charge of damage to religious property carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Branchburg Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark; prosecutors and detectives from the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, under the direction of Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin; detectives from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone; the Rutgers University Police Department-New Brunswick Division, under the leadership of Chief of University Police Kenneth Cop; and the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and R. Joseph Gribko, Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Division, with assistance from the National Security Unit for the District of New Jersey, as well by Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.