Man Admits To Hate Crime For Vandalizing Rutgers Islamic Center

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The 24-year-old New Jersey man accused of breaking into the Muslim student center on the Rutgers campus in April, smashing TVs, destroying religious objects and stealing the Palestinian flag, admitted this week to the crime.

Jacob Beacher pleaded guilty Wednesday in Trenton federal court to one count of causing damage to religious property, which is a federal hate crime. He is facing a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2025.

Federal prosecutors say at 2:41 a.m. on April 10 Beacher broke into the Center for Islamic Life, located on College Avenue at Rutgers-New Brunswick. He got inside by breaking glass at the back door, and then reaching inside to unlock the back door.

At the time, Beacher was living in North Plainfield, where he was arrested 12 days after the break-in.

He is not a Rutgers student nor has he ever attended Rutgers, said the school. A Rutgers spokeswoman said a search of their records shows no evidence of him ever attending the school.

In his guilty plea Wednesday, Beacher admitted he intentionally broke into the center on Eid-al-Fitr (the holiest of all Muslim holidays), and that he destroyed the religious items because they are connected to Islam, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said Thursday in this video announcing Beacher's guilty plea.

Beacher also did this at the height of unrest and protests on college campuses across the nation over the Israel-Hamas war.

“The free exercise of religion is a fundamental right of all Americans,” said Sellinger in the video. "The rise of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry in New Jersey is alarming. Anyone who attempts to intimidate others based on their race, how they worship, where they're from or who they love will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Once inside the building, Beacher proceeded to single-handedly cause $19,000 in vandalism, including smashing clay religious prayer stones, smashing printed verses from the Quran, emptying desks and smashing a printer and multiple flat-screen TVs, according to this indictment, newly released this week by federal prosecutors. He broke the Quran verses in half, police said.

Beacher also stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box of cash, police said.

He acted alone, said police.

"The only thing that was stolen was the Palestinian flag," center director Atiya Aftab told Patch at the time, saying the damage was discovered by cleaning ladies the next morning. "Everything else was just destroyed and smashed. We deliberately did not put the Palestinian flag outdoors. We did not want to provoke anyone on campus. We are respectful of everyone's opinions. That's what's so disturbing."

The FBI joined Rutgers Police and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office in investigating the crime. According to the indictment, security camera footage showed Beacher breaking into the center's back door.

Additionally, security cameras located throughout the Rutgers campus also showed Beacher "pacing" in front of the Rutgers Student Center immediately after the vandalism, and then riding his bike off campus and toward Buccleuch Park.

Police first interviewed Beacher as a suspect on April 12, two days after the break-in. On April 14, two people reported to law enforcement that they found the donation box on the east side of Buccleuch Park. FBI agents also traced Beacher's cell phone and determined that it had been used on the east side of Buccleuch Park in the hour immediately after the break-in.

Beacher was arrested April 22 in North Plainfield. He was initially charged with one count of damage to religious property and one count of making false statements to federal authorities (lying to an FBI agent).

Federal prosecutors say what Beacher did was "an Islamophobic-fueled act of hate."

“When we learned of this vandalism back in April, we immediately engaged with our law enforcement partners and Rutgers University,” said FBI agent Nelson Delgado of the FBI in Newark. “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."

Hear U.S. Attorney from NJ Phillip Sellinger speak on this Thursday:

Initial report on the break-in: Rutgers Center For Islamic Life Vandalized; Palestinian Flag Stolen (April 10)

Report the day Beacher was arrested and charged: NJ Man, 24, Charged With Hate Crime In Rutgers Muslim Center Vandalism (April 22)