http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/chuntera-napier-mom-arrested-10-year-old-tattoo_n_1217040.htmlA Cobb county woman bonded out of jail on Wednesday after being arrested for taking her 10-year-old-son to get a tattoo.
Chuntera Napier said, her son, Gaquan Napier, wanted to honor his older brother who died after being hit by a car and she had no idea it was illegal for him to get a tattoo.
"It made me feel good to know he wanted his brother on him." Napier said.
Napier said her family is still grieving the death of her 12-year-old son, Malik, who was hit and killed by a teenaged driver in Macon two years ago. She has her own tattoos in Malik%u2019s honor.
%u201CMy son came to me and said, %u2018Mom, I want to get a tattoo with Malik on it, rest in peace.%u2019
What do I say to a child who wants to remember his brother?%u201D Napier said. %u201CIt%u2019s not like he was asking me, %u2018Can I get Sponge Bob? Like people getting all kinds of things on them. He asked me something that%u2019s in remembrance of his brother. How can I say no?%u201D
When asked why he wanted to get the tattoo, Gaquan said, %u201CBecause it represents my brother.%u201D
Napier took her son to a tattoo artist in Smyrna where he got a tattoo featuring his brother%u2019s old jersey number.
Someone at Gaquan's school noticed the tattoo and contacted authorities.
http://bcove.me/vxgngehgA 2010 law states: %u201CIt shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except a physician or osteopath.%u201D
%u201CI always thought that if a parent gave consent, then it was fine,%u201D Napier said.
Napier was arrested Tuesday and charged with misdemeanor cruelty and being a party to a crime.
%u201CHow can somebody else say that it%u2019s not OK? He%u2019s my child, and I have the right to say what I want for my child. I can%u2019t go tell anybody else what I want for their child,%u201D Napier said.
The Acworth Police Department said it confirmed the charges with the district attorney%u2019s office before making an arrest.
The artist who gave the tattoo is also under investigation.
