Vandals hit East Paulding High School again - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Vandals have struck again at East Paulding High School.  Authorities confirm to FOX 5 that graffiti was found on the school's campus Monday morning.

Earlier this year, more than a dozen students were charged after they vandalized the school in part of what they called a senior prank.  

This time, deputies say surveillance cameras captured vandals hitting the school at about 1:45 a.m.  A Paulding County Sheriff's Department spokesperson said there were 20 tags on the school, and they left behind messages including "Don't do drugs, smoke weed," and "Class of 2015." The word "Illuminati" was also spray-painted on buildings.

"Of course it's frustrating. Our dollars are so precious in the Paulding County School district, with the budget cuts and everything that's going on in the economy and to take people's resources and time as well as the materials required to repair damage like this -- it's dollars that really need to be spent on students," said Brian Otott, assistant superintendent of Paulding County Schools.

Investigators are still going through surveillance photos and video of the incident in hopes of finding the culprits.

Last time vandals struck the school, they did $7,500 in damage.  A total of 24 suspects were arrested in that incident, which took place in March.

"We thought that last year we would have sent a message to the students: if you do this, you will be charged with a felony and obviously that wasn't clear enough for them so once we find out who did this, it will be clear," said Cpl. Ashley Henson of the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.

Parents and students are seeking answers, although they say this incident isn't nearly as extensive or worrisome as the one last spring.

"I think they ought to just make them clean it up and reprimand them. Let's don't do felony charges on kids," said Scott Cail.

Those arrested could face charges of criminal trespass or damage to public property -- a felony offense.

In the March incident, prosecutors offered the group a plea deal to make their felony vandalism charges disappear. They were each required to complete 400 hours of community service and pay more than a thousand dollars in fees and restitution to have the charges dismissed.