A New Jersey man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and destroying property, officials stated.
According to court documents, around 2:39 a.m. on April 10, during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, video footage captured Jacob Beacher, 24, approaching the back door of the CILRU. By 2:41 a.m., Beacher forcibly entered the building by breaking a glass pane on the door, pushing through a plexiglass panel, and reaching inside to unlatch a deadbolt.
Once inside, Beacher damaged several items, including religious artifacts like Turbah prayer stones and objects containing holy text from the Qur’an. He also stole a Palestinian flag and at least one charity box.
“The free exercise of religion is a fundamental right of all Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “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.”
(Recorded Four Months Ago)
“When we learned of this vandalism back in April, we immediately engaged with our law enforcement partners and Rutgers University,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado of the FBI Newark Field Office. “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.”
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. Beacher faces up to three years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levin and R. Joseph Gribko for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.