5 Arrested in Rival School Vandalism

Police arrested five Newport Harbor High School students Tuesday in connection with an incident in which tar, manure and spray paint were used to vandalize Corona del Mar High School.

The five 17-year-old boys are suspected of painting lockers, damaging benches, and dumping tar and manure in the school quadrangle. Police say the words “N.H. No. 1” and some mild obscenities were painted with tar and oil on the ground and lockers. The vandalism preceded the annual football game between Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor high schools, which are cross-town rivals. The vandalism happened between 3 and 4 a.m. Friday and was discovered by school security guards. Working with student leads and school officials, police expect to take more students into custody.

The paint, tar and oil caused about $3,000 worth of damage at the school, police said. Corona del Mar Assistant Principal Robert Evans said custodial staff worked all day on the cleanup.

“This seems to have gone a little to the extreme,” Evans said. “There are high school pranks . . . but this is vandalism.”

Dennis Evans, principal of Newport Harbor High School, agreed.

“If it was done in the name of school spirit, then it certainly is a travesty,” Evans said. He added that he wasn’t sure if the school code specified the punishment for vandalism but that state law could require the students to pay for the damage if they are found guilty.

When damage is less than $5,000, vandalism is considered a misdemeanor, Police Sgt. Andy Gonis said. He noted, however, that if found guilty, the students could face a variety of punishments at the discretion of the Juvenile Court.