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Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

A tattoo placed on a minor without parental consent has resulted in an assault charge for an Evarts man.

James “Bud” Johnson, 27, was arrested on Saturday by Kentucky State Police on a bench warrant after a criminal complaint was filed against him for violating Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 508.020.

KRS 508.020 states a person is guilty of second-degree assault if they intentionally cause serious physical injury to another person, intentionally causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument or wantonly causes serious physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.

According to the complaint, Johnson “unlawfully and intentionally” caused physical harm to a minor by means of a dangerous instrument. Johnson allegedly used a tattoo gun to place a tattoo on the upper right chest of a minor on May 20.

The complaint states that Johnson was aware that the minor did not have parental permission to receive a tattoo. Johnson was also aware the recipient of the tattoo was under the age of 18, according to the complaint.

Kentucky State Police also served Johnson with a separate warrant charging him with possession of marijuana.

According to the arrest warrant, Johnson unlawfully possessed a baggie of marijuana on July 4. The complaint was sworn out by Evarts Police Officer W. Clogston.

Johnson was transported to the Harlan County Detention Center and placed on a $10,000 full cash bond for the assault charge and a $2,000 bond for the possession charge. The $2,000 bond requires 10 percent cash.

Johnson was charged with second-degree assault, failure to appear and possession of marijuana.

In other police activity:

* Charles Lewis, 66, of Cumberland, was arrested by Deputy Matt Cope of the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office on Friday. Lewis was charged with two counts of probation violation for a felony offense;

* Curtis Halcomb, 25, of Harlan, was arrested Saturday by Harlan Police Officer Britt Ross on a probation violation for a felony offense.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@civitasmedia.com