Somerset County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Vandalism at Rutgers University’s Center for Islamic Life

Jacob Beacher of North Plainfield faces up to three years in prison for destroying religious artifacts during Eid-al-Fitr holiday.

NEWARK, NJ — Jacob Beacher, a 24-year-old man from North Plainfield, has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime after breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) and vandalizing religious artifacts. The crime occurred during the sacred Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr earlier this year, and Beacher now faces up to three years in prison.

Brought before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court on October 9, 2024, Beacher admitted to damaging property at CILRU, a facility dedicated to serving the Muslim community at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. The plea stems from an incident on April 10, 2024, when Beacher unlawfully entered the center at approximately 2:41 a.m. and caused extensive damage.

“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,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

During the break-in, Beacher targeted religious artifacts, including several Turbah prayer stones—clay stones used by Muslims during prostration in prayer. He also damaged other items inscribed with holy text from the Qur’an, Islam’s sacred scripture. In addition to the vandalism, Beacher stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box from the center. The destruction caused by the break-in is estimated to exceed $5,000.

“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.”

The charge of damage to religious property carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years, along with a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the monetary loss caused by the offense. Beacher's sentencing is scheduled for February 11, 2025.

The case was investigated by several agencies, including the FBI, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Rutgers University Police Department. The investigation also received support from the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.

“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.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin and R. Joseph Gribko, Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Division, are handling the case for the government, with assistance from the National Security Unit and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The guilty plea underscores the federal government's commitment to prosecuting hate crimes and defending the rights of all religious communities from violence and vandalism.