Edison, NJ – May 24, 2025 — A South Brunswick man previously charged with public lewdness at a major New Jersey university has once again been arrested—this time for allegedly committing similar acts at a different college campus.
Authorities confirmed that Jihad Goines Jr., 21, was taken into custody on May 19 after being caught on surveillance video performing lewd acts inside a building at Middlesex College in Edison.
Goines, a business student at Rutgers University, has now been charged with three counts of criminal sexual contact and three counts of lewdness—both stemming from a series of incidents that occurred earlier this month on May 9.
According to investigators, video footage shows Goines committing indecent acts in a high-traffic lobby area while students passed by.
This marks the second such arrest for Goines in less than six months, raising renewed concerns about campus safety and the handling of repeat offenders. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation and is urging any additional victims or witnesses to come forward.
Details of the Recent Incident
According to the official complaint, Goines entered a student building on the Middlesex College campus in Edison around midday on May 9. Security footage reportedly shows him loitering in the lobby before exposing himself and engaging in lewd behavior.
Several students and staff reported seeing the act or feeling uncomfortable during the incident, prompting campus security to review surveillance recordings and notify law enforcement.
Campus officials say Goines was not a student at Middlesex College and had no legitimate reason to be on school property. “His presence was unauthorized, and his actions were deeply disturbing,” said a spokesperson for the school’s public safety office.
“We take the safety and dignity of our students seriously and will continue to work closely with authorities.”
After reviewing the footage and identifying Goines, investigators issued a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody without incident on May 19 and is currently being held at Middlesex County Jail pending a detention hearing.
A Troubling Pattern of Behavior
The recent arrest echoes an earlier case involving Goines from December 2024, when he was charged with similar crimes on the campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick and at an apartment complex in Monmouth Junction.
In that incident, witnesses also reported Goines engaging in lewd and indecent behavior in public view. He was charged but later released pending court proceedings.
Legal experts note that while lewdness and criminal sexual contact are considered lower-degree offenses under New Jersey law, repeat behavior could significantly impact the severity of sentencing, especially if prosecutors can demonstrate a pattern of predatory conduct.
According to New Jersey law, criminal sexual contact (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b) is a fourth-degree crime that involves intentionally touching the intimate parts of another person without consent for sexual gratification.
Lewdness (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4) involves exposing intimate parts or committing indecent acts under circumstances likely to alarm or offend others.
Community and Campus Reactions
The incident has reignited discussions about campus security protocols and the challenges institutions face in identifying and responding to non-student threats. At Middlesex College, students expressed shock and discomfort upon learning of the alleged acts.
“It’s disgusting,” said Angela Ramos, a second-year student. “We come here to learn and feel safe. Knowing someone could just walk in and do that in front of everyone is really upsetting.”
Some students questioned how Goines was able to enter the building undetected. College officials responded by noting that while Middlesex is an open-access community college, efforts are underway to increase patrols and implement additional ID checkpoints for visitors.
Rutgers University, where Goines is enrolled, released a brief statement acknowledging the arrest but refrained from commenting on his status as a student. “Rutgers takes any allegations of misconduct seriously and is cooperating with law enforcement,” the statement read.
The case also drew attention from state lawmakers. Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-Middlesex) issued a statement urging college campuses to “take a more aggressive stance on monitoring entry points and responding to early signs of deviant behavior.”
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Goines made a brief court appearance on May 22, during which prosecutors from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office requested pretrial detention, citing risk of reoffense and public safety concerns. A detention hearing is scheduled for next week.
Assistant Prosecutor Jane McHugh stated, “This defendant has demonstrated a repeated pattern of sexually inappropriate and offensive conduct in public settings. The state believes he poses a clear risk to community safety.”
His defense attorney has not made a public statement, and it remains unclear how Goines will plead. If convicted, he could face multiple years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.
Request for Information
Authorities continue to investigate whether Goines may have committed similar offenses at other locations.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is asking that anyone with information related to Goines or who may have witnessed suspicious activity contact Detective Ryan Tighe at (732) 745-4335 or the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7400.
More information on these statutes can be found on the New Jersey Legislature’s website.
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