Three German tourists were charged federally for shooting Joshua Tree National Park signs, bathrooms and trash cans with paintballs, authorities said Thursday.
A park ranger noticed fresh paintball spatter on structures in the park on Sunday, according to the park service. An investigation of the nearby campsite revealed a slingshot in plain view inside a vehicle, the park service said in a press release.
The visitors admitted to shooting an air-powered paintball gun, or paintball marker, and slingshots the night before, authorities said. Rangers reportedly found three slingshots, a paintball marker, paintballs and other evidence inside their vehicle.
At least 11 road signs were shot with yellow paintballs, the park service said.
“Destroying or altering NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against the law,” Joshua Tree National Park Acting Chief Warden Jeff Filosa said in the release. “It detracts from the natural environment that millions of people travel the world to enjoy. The park is regularly tasked with removing graffiti of all kinds, using time and resources that could be better spent on other priorities.”
The group was charged with vandalizing, damaging or destroying property. They face up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine, officials said.
Paintball guns and slingshots are legally considered weapons and are not allowed in national parks.
Joshua Tree is one of the country’s most popular national parks with more than 3 million visitors annually, according to Park Service statistics.