New York Mother Arrested After Allegedly Allowing Her 10-Year-Old Son To Get A Tattoo
By Sidra Lackey
A mother from upstate New York was recently arrested after she allegedly let her underage son get tattooed. According to the New York Post story, “Upstate New York mom arrested for letting 10-year-old son get tattoo,” Crystal Thomas, 33, was staying in the town of Highland, NY in a “transient” hotel with her two children. Her 10-year-old son got the tattoo, “his name in big block letters” from a man in the room next door to where the young boy and his family were staying. “She wasn’t in the room with him,” police Chief James Janso pointed out.
Thomas was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, for allowing her son to get “a large permanent ink tattoo on his body,” according to local police. She’s not the only one in trouble with the law. The “tattoo artist” who tattooed the underage child is being sought out by police.
Law enforcement became involved in this situation when the young boy went to school and he asked the school nurse for Vaseline to put on his tattoo. From there, Child Protective Services removed the 10-year-old and his sibling from their mother. Thomas was given an appearance ticket and is scheduled back in court, according to police.
A 10-year-old being tattooed is a violation of Section 260.21 of New York State Penal Law, which prohibits a minor to get tattooed under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent. Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates breaks down NY Penal Law § 260.21: Unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree: “The crime of unlawfully dealing with a child involves subjecting a child to activity deemed inappropriate for a minor. Such activity includes sexual activity, illegal drugs, and tattooing. There are 2 unlawfully dealing with a child offenses in New York's criminal code. The specific charge that you will face depends on the gravity of the activity to which you subject the child.” Sentencing goes as follows: “Unlawful dealing with a child in the second degree is a class B misdemeanor. If you are convicted your sentence may include up to 90 days, a probation term of 1 year, and a substantial.”
Why would Thomas think it was a good idea for her small son to get tattooed?! Instead of waiting 8 more years when her son could get tattooed legally, she put his health in danger and now she could face jail time. As far as the “tattoo artist” who tattooed the child, if he is ever found, he shouldn’t be allowed to tattoo professionally in a studio ever! Tattoo artists: have you ever had a sensitive situation where a parent wanted their underage child to be tattooed? If so, how did you handle it? Tattoo collectors: Do you think Thomas deserves jail time or probation?