Three tourists are facing potential jail time for allegedly vandalizing Joshua Tree National Park in California. The National Park Service said that a ranger was patrolling the Jumbo Rocks Campground on August 4 when he noticed fresh yellow paint splattered on buildings and road signs.
Law enforcement rangers were called and began searching the area. They found a vehicle that had a slingshot in plain sight and questioned the occupants. The three men, who were visiting from Germany, admitted they had used the slingshot and a paintball gun to shoot structures and signs throughout the park.
“Rangers also learned that at least 11 roadway signs along Park Boulevard from Jumbo Rocks campground to the Maze Trailhead, two miles from the west entrance of the park, had been shot with yellow paintballs,” the National Park Service said in a news release.
The three men were cited with a federal violation notice for vandalizing, defacing, or destroying property. They face up to six months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
“Defacing or altering the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against the law,” said Joshua Tree National Park Acting Chief Ranger Jeff Filosa. “It diminishes the natural environment that millions of people travel the world to enjoy. The park is regularly tasked with removing graffiti of all types, using time and resources that could be better dedicated to other priorities.”
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