New Jersey Man Sentenced for Hate Crime at Rutgers Islamic Center
Jacob Beacher, a resident of North Plainfield, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to a federal hate crime related to the April 10 attack on CILRU, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
Prosecutors said Beacher broke into the center and caused extensive damage, smashing televisions, destroying phones and printers, and leaving shattered glass strewn across the floor. A Palestinian flag was also reported missing from the premises.
On Tuesday, Beacher was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by a year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $19,000 in restitution. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors dropped additional charges related to making false statements.
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CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut acknowledged the sentencing as a step toward accountability but emphasized the broader impact of the attack.
"While the sentence brings a degree of accountability, it is important to remember that the impact of this attack extends far beyond the physical damage to property," Maksut said. "The fear and trauma caused by such acts of hate cannot be easily measured, and the damage to the sense of safety within our community is not something that can be repaired overnight."
The Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University described the attack as deeply unsettling, particularly given its timing on an important Muslim holiday. “The shock and fear within our campus community were palpable. Our sense of safety was shattered, and our holiday was irrevocably marred,” the center said in a victim impact statement.
In a separate statement, CILRU Chair Atiya Aftab linked the incident to a growing climate of Islamophobia, citing reports that Beacher had previously harassed Muslim students and expressed pro-Israel sentiments in high school. "His Islamophobic behavior appears to have persisted into adulthood, culminating in this violent attack against our Chaplaincy," Aftab wrote.
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CAIR's latest civil rights report noted that in 2024, its offices nationwide received 8,658 complaints of anti-Muslim bias, the highest number since records began in 1996. In New Jersey alone, education-related complaints surged, with 53 reported cases, up from 35 in 2023. The organization warned that bias and hate crimes continue to escalate.
Source: Agencies
