Two teen girls arrested in hate-crime vandalism case in Oakhurst

Two teenage girls have been arrested in connection with what investigators describe as a case of hate-crime vandalism in Oakhurst.

The girls, ages 15 and 16, were booked into the Madera County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of vandalism and committing a hate crime, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Sheriff’s deputies responded around 1 a.m. Monday to a home on Pierce Drive and found racially motivated messages, feces, paint, mustard and plastic wrap on two cars, officials said in a news release.

Investigators on Tuesday released details of the vandalism to the media.

“The ongoing investigation revealed that initial media coverage of the incident may have scared the suspects into contacting the victim to try to apologize for their actions in the hope that they wouldn’t get in trouble,” sheriff’s Lt. Bill Ward said in a statement.

The Sheriff’s Office received information about vandalism to vehicles in the home’s driveway, according to a news release.

A neighbor heard his dogs barking just before 1 a.m. and went to check. He saw two people wearing dark clothing running from the house.

A pickup truck was covered in plastic wrap and smeared with feces, paint and mustard in several places. Messages such as “go back to Mexico” and “cut my grass better ...” were written on the truck.

The second vehicle was smeared with a large amount of paint and feces, and also had several messages written on it, according to the news release. The vehicle had fresh dents to the body. Toilet paper also was thrown around the front yard, including the trees.

The case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at 559-675-7770, or Valley Crimestoppers at 559-498-STOP.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Two teen girls arrested in hate-crime vandalism case in Oakhurst."