Isaiah Alarcon has a national audience once a week on ABC's "Brat Camp," which documents his progress through a 50-day Oregon wilderness camp with a focus on disciplining troubled teens.
Now back from the camp, the Atwater High School student reportedly admitted to Merced County Sheriff's Department deputies that he used spray paint to scrawl "spook" and "Ners live here" in front of preschool teacher Angelic Royal's home on Palomino Drive early Friday morning.
Alarcon and his friend, Christopher Farenelli, 18, reportedly wrote the slurs and drew a swastika in the street after a drunken night of partying in Ceres.
They both told sheriff's deputies that they did not mean any harm with the graffiti, and Royal said Alarcon tried to clean up the slurs before he was taken into custody Saturday.
The Sun-Star normally does not name suspected juvenile offenders. However, Alarcon already is in public view because of his exposure on national TV.
Alarcon spent the weekend in Merced County Juvenile Hall and was charged with damaging property and interference of civil rights, said Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin.
He said the situation was ironic, but with some serious consequences for Alarcon.
"Reality TV has taken the place of long-term rehabilitation," Pazin said. "These kids had some real serious issues that needed to be dealt with in a long-term process, not a multi-week TV program for entertainment."
Alarcon's mother, Virginia, declined to allow her son to comment on Wednesday. She told the Sun-Star last week that his behavior had improved since he returned from "Brat Camp."
The TV show's Web site describes him as an "angry punk rocker who smokes, drinks and has an obsession with fire." The show airs at 8 p.m. on Wednesday nights.
"Brat Camp" takes place at SageWalk, a wilderness school where teens can learn anger management and educational skills. It was filmed between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Alarcon escaped from the camp in one of the episodes, according to an ABC press release.
Farenelli was arrested Saturday after he turned himself into the sheriff's department. He was later released after posting $5,200 bail on suspicion of a vandalism and criminal conspiracy charge.
Both young men might face increased penalties if they are charged with committing a hate crime.
The Merced County District Attorney's Office has not decided what charges it will pursue in their prosecution, Chief Deputy District Attorney Larry Morse II said Tuesday.
Royal, 37, discovered the graffiti when she looked out her window early Friday morning. She said she brought Alarcon water when she saw him scrubbing away at the graffiti Saturday morning.
"I think maybe he got caught up in the moment and what a price to pay," she said. Reporter Adam Ashton can be reached at 385-2484 or aashton@mercedsun-star.com.
