A 16-year-old Ohio tattoo artist is facing two misdemeanor charges after a viral Facebook video allegedly showed him giving a 10-year-old boy a permanent tattoo, court records showed.
The teen was formally charged Thursday and is being held in the juvenile detention center for an unrelated offense, Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart said.
More than 14,000 people have shared the Facebook video showing the boy getting tattooed, which police said was recorded by the boy’s mother.
No felony charges are expected against the 10-year-old’s mother, however Stewart said the case has been referred to the municipal prosecutor’s office for possible misdemeanor charges.
Children’s services also has an open investigation into the family.
The 16-year-old artist faces two counts of tattooing prohibitions, one involving the sterilization of equipment and the other for allegedly violating safety and sanitation standards, records show.
Bellefontaine Police have received calls from all over the country from people who say they are upset about it.
Wednesday, Bellefontaine Police Lt. Rick Herring said police got the first report on Monday and went to a local apartment complex to check on the family.
The boy told officers he wanted the tattoo, Herring said.
According to Ohio law, it is illegal to tattoo a child unless the parent gives consent.
But police say tattoos must be done in a safe and sanitary environment.
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