Mom arrested for allegedly letting child, 10, get a tattoo

www.ajc.com/news/cobb/mom-arrested-for-allegedly-1307451.htm l

Mom arrested for allegedly letting child, 10, get a tattoo

By David Ibata

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Cobb County mother was charged with misdemeanor child cruelty after she allegedly let her 10-year-old son get a tattoo in memory of his deceased brother, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Enlarge photo Channel 2 Action News, Channel 2 Action News Chuntera Napier (left) of Acworth and her 10-year-old son, Gaquan, show off the tattoos they got to remember the woman's other son, Malik, who was struck and killed by a motorist in Macon about two years ago. Napier has since been arrested. State law prohibits tattoos for persons under the age of 18. Enlarge photo Chuntera Napier, of Acworth, and her 10-year-old son Gaquan display the tattoos they got to remember Gaquan's older brother, Malik. Chuntera Napier, of Acworth, told Channel 2 that her 12-year-old son, Malik, was struck and killed by a motorist in Macon about two years ago, and her other son, Gaquan, wanted a tattoo like hers to remember his older brother by.

“My son came to me and said, ‘Mama, I want to get a tattoo with Malik on it, rest in peace,'" Napier said. “It made me feel good to know to know that he wanted his brother on him."

She said she did not know it is illegal in Georgia to tattoo anyone under the age of 18.

“What do I say to a child who wants to remember his brother? It’s not like he’s asking me if can I get him a Sponge Bob," she said. “He’s asking me for something that’s in remembrance of his brother. Well, how do I tell a child no?"

Napier took her son to a tattoo artist in Smyrna. When the child went to school, someone noticed the tattoo and called authorities.

The mother was arrested Tuesday and spent that day and Wednesday morning in jail. In addition to the child cruelty count, she was charged with being a party to a crime. She has since been released to await a March court hearing.

“I always thought if a parent gives consent, then it’s fine," Napier said. “How can somebody else say it’s not OK? He’s my child, and I have a right to say what I want for my child."

Acworth police Chief Mike Wilkie disagreed. He told Channel 2 that police had no choice but to arrest Napier after investigating and consulting with the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office and Solicitor’s Office.

“We hope they can find something that can sustain them through that loss, but this is not the way, and it is illegal, and it was something we were bound by the law to investigate and to prosecute," Wilkie said.

Police now want to speak with the person who allegedly applied the tattoo to Gaquan.

Other parents have been arrested before in Georgia for allegedly giving their children tattoos.

Last April, a man in Floyd County, in northwest Georgia, was found guilty of giving a tattoo to a person under 18 after he tattooed “DB," for “Daddy’s Boy," on the shoulder of his 3-year-old son. He was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and fined $300.

About two years ago, a couple in Summerville, also in northwest Georgia, were arrested and charged with cruelty to children, reckless conduct and illegal tattooing after they allegedly gave all six of their youngsters, ages 10 to 17, small cross tattoos.

-- Staff writer Alexis Stevens and the Associated Press contributed to this article.

Okay I don't agree with the fact that the mom let her son get a tattoo at that age regardless of the cir****tances but I believe that it was the tattoo artist's responsibility to inform the mother that it was illegal for him to tattoo the boy.

Some people simply are not educated and the professional are the ones that need to be held accountable. I am certain that the mom would have thought of another way if she had been educated on the matter.

What about these parents that are getting their kids plastic surgery....isn't that child cruelty? or should the definition be limited to people who happen to have a lower social and economic status? I think not!!!  SMDH!

I agree on both counts.  If I receive a consent form I believe it is perfectly legal.  She should have been told she was consenting to an illegal act.  The artist should be held equally responsible. 

I refused consent for a tatoo but when DD reachead te legal age I took her to the place and paid for half.  There is no way I'm going to be responsible for a permanant marking like that.  However, in this cir****tance I may have consented to the rememberance. 

Any way you put it, this is the typical bias based on socio economics.  It is criminal for kids to have cosmetic surgery.  There is no health benefit to implants, nose jobs, liposuction, ears pinned back etc but surgeons are not loosing their licenses.  Of course the affluent parents are not being jailed or even challenged. 

These are average looking kids.  Not so beautiful folks normally learn to reley on their strengths and deal with it so the self esteme angle is bull****   

Come on what are people thinking now days! I read this story on FB and I could not believe it I have several tattoos, but my kids are not allowed to get tattoos until they are 21 yrs old! I have a 18yr old son who is a freshman at morgan state and he has asked but I told him not until he graduates college or turns 21! I told him to wait , and see what kind of job he might land he never know how some employers will view it! He agrees, because he is all about saving his money, and spending mines! lmao!