Teen's Tattoo Leads to Criminal Charges

When you tattoo an individual, make sure you know that they are of age.

A woman in Fayetteville, North Carolina wants a local tattoo parlor shut down after her underage son illegally got tattooed there.

While Toi Jenkins was out of town over Thanksgiving, her 14-year-old son went to The Ink Well and got a tattoo on his left forearm.

"That's something that's permanent on his body for the rest of his life," said Jenkins, who added that she had already told her son that he was not allowed to get a tattoo.

"I'm angry at my son. I'm angry at the tattoo parlor," she said.

According to WRAL.com, Jenkins called Fayetteville police and had Christopher Blayne, 20, charged with tattooing a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

North Carolina law prohibits anyone from tattooing a person under age 18. Unlike body piercing, there is no provision under state law for parental consent for a minor to obtain a tattoo.

"It was, like, he didn't care. He took (my son's) money, and he tattooed him," Jenkins said.

According to Jim Hayes, who oversees tattoo parlors for the state Division of Environmental Health, a local business would not likely be shut down for such an act.

Although Hayes feels that it is improbable, a judge could order an injunction to prohibit Blayne from working.

According to WRAL.com, the tattoo artist reported that he is not responsible for checking customer’s ages, that is the front counters job.  His job is to just tattoo the customers.

Mike Corbitt, owner of The Ink Well, said he would look into the incident to conclude how the teen obtained a tattoo. He believes that the kid might have used a fake ID.

WRAL reported that according to Chop Shop tattoo parlor owner, Pam Francis, her workers keep a detailed record of everyone who comes in.

Each artist has the customer fill out a release form, complete with an identification number and date of birth, she said.

"You have to show an ID," Francis said. "North Carolina law, as far as I know, is very specific. It says (the minimum age for tattoos is) 18 – no exceptions."

If The Ink Well can’t follow the law, Jenkins said they should not be in business.

"He's still a child, and he's still my baby," she said.

Source: wral.com