Jacob Beacher, 24, of North Plainfield, has pleaded guilty to a hate crime for vandalizing the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The incident occurred on April 10, coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr.
Beacher, who is not affiliated with Rutgers, admitted to damaging religious property and now faces up to three years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for February 11.
Initially charged in April with intentional or attempted obstruction of religious practice and making false statements to federal authorities, Beacher’s actions resulted in an estimated $40,000 in damages. Prosecutors reported that he damaged several religious artifacts and items containing holy language from the Quran, Islam’s sacred scripture. Additionally, Beacher stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box belonging to the center.
The break-in occurred around 2:40 a.m. when the site was unoccupied. Two days after the incident, Beacher admitted to the FBI that he was the person seen in surveillance footage near the center but denied breaking in.
This case comes amid a reported spike in bias incidents in New Jersey, as noted by the state attorney general’s office weeks before the vandalism.
