Mother Arrested for Letting 10-Year-Old Son Get a Tat

January 20th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

When Chuntera Napier’s 10-year-old son asked if he could get a tattoo honoring his brother who had been killed by a teen driver two years ago, the Georgia mother says she couldn’t tell him no. But now she may wish she had since authorities have charged her with misdemeanor cruelty and being a party to a crime as a result of the body art.

Chuntera doesn’t attempt to deny her part in the “crime.” She admits taking her son Gaquan to an artist in Smyrna where he received a tattoo featuring his brother’s name and his former basketball jersey number.

“My son came to me and said, ‘Mom, I want to get a tattoo with Malik on it, rest in peace.’ What do I say to a child who wants to remember his brother?”

I always thought it was legal to tattoo a minor with consent from their legal guardian, but according to a 2010 law, “it shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except for a physician or osteopath…”

Chuntera says she was unaware of the law, and although she was bonded out of jail Wednesday, she’s still shocked that she had to face this predicament. As far as the tattoo artist, police say they want to speak with the person who allegedly applied the tattoo to 10-year-old Gaquan.

Police Chief Mike Wilkie said of the mother and son, “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.”

Do you think Chuntera was wrong to let her son get a tattoo (outside of not knowing it was illegal)? Do you agree with the law banning tattoos on minors?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • RenJennM

    I have never heard of this law! WTF?! Look, I’m not saying that ANY mom should let their child(ren) go out and get a tattoo, but as long as I’ve known, if the parent gives consent then it’s ok. I knew a kid in high school who got a tattoo along with his dad and brothers because he was Irish and the tattoo was of their family crest. My ex has a tattoo of his late mother that he got when he was 17. 

    What you or I think of the morality of tattoos is relative to each individual because at the end of the day, it all depends on where you’re from, how you were raised, your style/taste, etc. I personally plan on having my kids wait until they’re at least 18yrs old to get a tattoo. But if their loved one dies, I wouldn’t let my child(ren) get tattoo at 10, but I may let them at maybe 15 or 16, depending on what the tattoo design looks like. 

    I don’t know what caused this law to be enforced, but I don’t agree with it. I just think it’s a another law in this country meant to delegate and regulate us, as opposed to protecting us. There’s just too much more to be worried about than a mother letting her kid get tattoos.

    • SammyJo_inTokyo

      I licensed professional tattoo artist would know the law.  Apart from the legality issue, I have to wonder if he received this tattoo in a safe & sanitary manner (licensed artist).  I hope he does not have any permanent health effects (HIV, Hepatitis, bacterial infections) from mom’s poor decision making.

    • SammyJo_inTokyo

      I licensed professional tattoo artist would know the law.  Apart from the legality issue, I have to wonder if he received this tattoo in a safe & sanitary manner (licensed artist).  I hope he does not have any permanent health effects (HIV, Hepatitis, bacterial infections) from mom’s poor decision making.

      • RenJennM

        It’s true that the tattoo artist should’ve known the law, but look who’s being arrested… the unaware parent.

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  • Nnroller010

    First off, she ought to be ashamed of those ghetto names she gave her children. Second, I can easily tell a 16 year old no, let alone a 10 year old. Like seriously lady? You’re irresponsible and stupid.

  • Racheldachel

    For all those who are saying it is “okay” and “appropriate,” I have a question:

    So, this little boy got his brother’s name, “R.I.P” and his brother’s basketball jersey (hobby) inked on his arm as a permanent tribute. If it was a white mother who was into white supremacy and her older son had died and she allowed her 10-year-old to get a tattoo that said, “R.I.P. Bobby” and had a picture of a swastika or a confederate flag (his hobby), would that be okay?

    “Appropriate” is subjective, while “illegal” is not. You can debate whether or not something is appropriate; I might find it appropriate for my 15 -year-old daughter to date and you might not. We can debate whether or not a tween with a tattoo is tasteless, ghetto, stupid, inappropriate, acceptable, honorable, sentimental, etc. However, it is still illegal.

    I’m not saying I agree with jail time, but parenting classes, a fine and some checks and balances I can definitely see.

    • Jener

      GREAT  POINT

  • promethean_dreams

    My question to all of you supporting the mother going to jail is what about her employment situation.  Does she still have a job?  Should her child be taken from her?  Who will ensure he finds good foster parents?  Would loosing his brother and then his mother be good for this child’s mental health?  I see so many judging this woman but I doubt few of you would be willing to stick your necks out to make sure this child has a healthy childhood.  I am sure children in many indigenous societies have tattoos.  Should we persecute their parents and take them away from their families?  Ethnocentrism has its place but lets get off the holier than though bandwagon. 

    • Danson

      Not too long ago, a father in Georgia was arrested for tattooing his 3 yr old son with the initial DB (daddy’s boy).  He was arrested, placed on 12 months probation, fined $300.  Is tattooing a 3 yr old acceptable? Same thing happened to a 7 yr old in California. At which age is it acceptible? 
      The reason why laws are in place to protect our children is because even parents make ill-fated decisions.  Dont expect others to worry about her employment situation if she didnt.  And the possiblity of her children being taken away is not on the table.  So why bring that up?  And you are right, none of us on this site are linig up to take care of him.  That is the mother and father’s job.  This includes making proper decisions and setting boundaries.  And where is dad?  Did she discuss this with him?  And no one is claiming to be holier than though.  The commentors who are opposed to her choice are clearly demonstrating that they can make necessary decisions as parents.

      • promethean_dreams

        Actually several posters suggest that she wasn’t fit to be a parent.  Don’t we take children away from a parent who is unfit.  If she looses her child and is unable to care for him won’t she loose her child.  Secondly neither of those children asked to be tattooed. Thirdly this is a difference in cultural acceptance.  She viewed it as acceptable for her son to honor the memory of her son in this way.  Would you be for arresting a Native American if their tribe viewed child tattooing as acceptable.  Finally many posters have posted about not allowing their children to get tattoos until they were 18.  They are comparing their parenting style to her and saying I am better because I would never.  I wouldn’t allow my child to get a tattoo at such an early age.  I am not going to condemn this woman for allowing her son to eulogize his brother in a way that his subculture accepts. 

        • Ms_Sunshine9898

          I’m just saying though. If she thinks it cool to let her 10 yo child get a tattoo what else will she think is cool for him to do?

        • SammyJo_inTokyo

          This has nothing to do with imposing my views…it is illegal in her state.  She should have claimed she took him to a state where her consent made it legal.  Better yet refocus his grief and desire to remember his brother into a productive/age appropriate activity.

        • SammyJo_inTokyo

          This has nothing to do with imposing my views…it is illegal in her state.  She should have claimed she took him to a state where her consent made it legal.  Better yet refocus his grief and desire to remember his brother into a productive/age appropriate activity.

  • promethean_dreams

    Wow, I could understand if it was a worthless tattoo he might regret later but this is his brother.  How disgusting that this mother was arrested for allowing her soon to remember his brother in an appropriate way.

  • http://twitter.com/VaniecesPieces Diva In Transition

    Would I allow my child to get a tattoo at 10? Nope.  Should she have been arrested? Hell no.  People are always trying to impose their “standards” of parenting onto others.  Get a life and take care of your own children!  I wonder how the police even found out about it.  Probably some holier than thou, super “parent” who just couldn’t believe that someone had a different way of memorializing a lost than they did.  I tell you, people and their ideals…

    • Joizn

      .I dont get it. One minute we claim it takes a village. The next minute we tell people to mind their business

      • http://twitter.com/VaniecesPieces Diva In Transition

        It does take a village, but the village does not supersede the parent. Suggestions are fine and sometimes even heeded, but don’t criminalize if one chooses not to follow.

  • Sgrsweet24

    She said she allowed the tattoo in memory of his brother that died but there are so many other ways to remember a lost loved one.  I do not agree even slightly that what she did was ok.  If I were in that situation I would have simply said he can get a tattoo like that when he turns 18 and it becomes legal for him to do so.  I myself have tattooes and when my oldest asked me if she could get one my answer was absolutely not until you turn 18.  I have no objection to people getting tattooes however if you are going to mark yourself for life you should be of legal age to do so.  This was a poor decision by the mother. 

  • Nattygirldred

    The tattoo artist should be fined they should have known the law. But she shouldn’t have had to go to jail post bond or lose money in any way. Do I think a 10 year old should get a tattoo ? NO. It’s honorable yes but no. He could have waited until he was of age. It could have been used as a rite of passage into manhood, since we as African Americans don’t have ANY thing like that oh except gang banging. So tattoo as a rite of passage would be cool. But sometimes you’ve got to tell your kids NO, period.

  • I Shoot People Everyday

    Yes it’s a crime! He’s 10! These are the types of people who don’t need to have children. It’s our duty to raise our children with limits & boundaries. I’m the mother of a 17 year old son & there is no way I’d allow him to tattoo or pierce his body for that matter until he was an appropriate age. I never allowed him to wear the fake ones you could get out of the nickel machines. I didn’t need him to think it was ok. What happened to children being children? They have only 1 opportunity to be a child, allow them that, because it fleeting…Tattoos are what adults have, not children.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Francine-Julius-Edwards/1117851302 Francine Julius Edwards

    Way too harsh a treatment to this young mother. Although I agree that 10 years old is too young,arresting this woman is (again) harsh. Now she has a record and has to go through the Court system etc. Tat Parlors should have restrictions listed clearly.

    • SammyJo_inTokyo

      I doubt a professional and licensed artist did his tattoo.  Artists know the law and would not so blatantly break it.  If he was taken to an unlicensed tattoo artist, mom & artist should be charged with child endangerment due to the risk of disease.  I hope he does not have any long term health effects from his mom’s poor discussion making.  FYI- mom you say “NO!” and focus him on a more practical/age appropriate way to celebrate his brother’s life (printing t-shirts with his # or memory box).

    • SammyJo_inTokyo

      I doubt a professional and licensed artist did his tattoo.  Artists know the law and would not so blatantly break it.  If he was taken to an unlicensed tattoo artist, mom & artist should be charged with child endangerment due to the risk of disease.  I hope he does not have any long term health effects from his mom’s poor discussion making.  FYI- mom you say “NO!” and focus him on a more practical/age appropriate way to celebrate his brother’s life (printing t-shirts with his # or memory box).

  • Quiet As Kept

    She needed to go to jail for that. She could have told him to wait until he’s a little older and found other symbolic ways to honor his brother’s memory. Then the tat is a hot mess, looking like it was done with a rusty safety pin.

  • Tasha

    Mom should have considered what this will do to his reputation.  At the age of 10, a tattoo is not well received and other parents may question her judgment and not allow their children in her presence. She should have considered his body growth and how the tattoo will change; becoming distorted.  Im glad it’s against the law.  I dont want to see 10 year olds tattooed as the norm. 

  • Shay

    I also assumed that minors could get a tattoo with parental consent.  However, I don’t agree with it, because I believe you should be an adult to make the decision to mark your body for life.  I even refuse to let my 17 year old son get a tattoo, so I think 10 is too young.  If the mother took her son to a reputable tattoo artist, they should have been aware of the law and therefore they should face charges as well.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003085266535 Courtney Small

    What child needs a tattoo? at 10? not to mention he’s going to be growing up and getting taller and that skin is going to be stretched out. and that tatt is going to be looking messed up

    • Carolann

      I dont know how old you are, but remember when as young girls we couldnt get perms or even where colored lip gloss.  I couldnt shave my legs until I was mid teens (I did so w/o my mother knowing, but at least she set boundaries).  Im a 1980s girl and I remember I wanted the salt-n-pepper hairstyle (shaved on one side, feathered on the other).  Nope, I had to rock a ponytail with bang.  I was a little girl for as long as possible.  Now and days, kids are on the adult level..the way they talk, no set bed times, no respect for they elders (and I mean respect such as saying “pardon me, excuse me, MR. or MRS.”).  Childhood and adulthood is quickly merging.  That’s my rant.

      Oh you made a great point.

  • ManOrWoman

    Arrested for this but a parent can allow a child to have numerous body piercings, burn their hair with perms, dying the hair but somehow, this is criminal. Tasteless, yes but criminal?

    • Phoenix Reign

      Piercings close, hair can go back to its natural state and dyes fade what’s the difference?? IT’S PERMENANT! Not to mention painful, no comparison to a butt whooping! I have 8 tats and I know for me, who has a high tolerance for pain what that little boy endured and I’m sure she coerced him to sit there, cry and go through it, he probably said he don’t want it anymore after the first needle. She needs to be jailed and being a young mother doesn’t exclude you from common sense. A simple shrine in his closet would have done if it was that important to honor his brother death, heck, I would have accepted that than a tat at 10. Ghetto loser of a mother.

      • promethean_dreams

        I just received my first tattoo and it kind of felt like being bitten by a hamster.  It hurt but I have felt worst pain from cornrows that were too tight. 

    • Joizn

      This is a perfect example to teaach children about fairness.  Explain that the world is not fair and that what one may perceive as right, others, including the law, perceive as wrong. 

      I have to thank you.  As a 7th grade language arts teacher, you provided my with an excellent topic to discuss with my students regarding fairness and perceptions. I am going to spend some time this weekend looking up the law regarding tattoos in Georgia and with my students have a discussion pertaining to this incident.  Should the mother have been arrested?  Is it fair for the govt to step in?  What about body piercings, etc.?  I am always discussing with my students how the world works, not how it should work (there’s a difference). And that instead of complaining, what should they do to make changes. And before they accuse others of not being fair, do they practice consistant fairness.

      Thanks again.