Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

Tattooing a minor

I am currently a hobby tattooist, not receiving compensation for any work. I performed a tattoo on a friend of the family which we have known for 18 months. This individual is a minor. The tattoo was performed with the verbal face to face consent of the individuals legal parent both before and after the tattoo. They were not present during the actual process. This was done approximately 6 weeks ago. We have since had an unrelated incident with this family, and they are now pressing charges that I illegally tattooed their son. Neither side can prove that I did or did not perform the said tattoo. I have no written documents granting permission, so this turns into a matter of ones word. I am tempted to plead ''no contest'' and do this on my own. Or should I hire a pro. This charge is a class 2 misdemeanor and I have no priors.


Asked on 11/27/04, 2:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Tattooing a minor

A plea of no contest or nolo contendere is the same as a plea of guilty. If in fact you're not guilty of the offense charged, why would you want to consider entering a guilty plea and possibly

suffering consequences down the line in your life that you cannot now even anticipate as a result of this guilty plea?

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Answered on 11/27/04, 7:07 pm


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