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NEWARK, N.J. – Somerset Man Charged in Rutgers Hate Crime
A 24-year-old Somerset County man has been charged with a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and destroying property.
Jacob Beacher, 24, was arrested this morning and is charged by complaint with one count of intentional or attempted obstruction of religious practice and one count of making false statements to federal authorities.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 10, during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday, Beacher broke into the CILRU around 2:41 a.m., where he damaged the CILRU’s property, including several religious artifacts, such as Turbah prayer stones, which are clay stones on which Muslims prostrate during prayer, and numerous other items that contained holy language from the Qur’an, Islam’s sacred scripture.
The complaint also alleges that Beacher stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box belonging to the CILRU. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin and Deputy Chief R. Joseph Gribko for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin credited the many agencies that collaborated on this joint investigation, including the FBI, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Rutgers University Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department, and New Jersey State Police.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Beacher is scheduled to have his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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