Calif. court weighs whether gang tattoo on 7-year-old boy warrants life sentence for father
By Tracie Cone, APThursday, October 1, 2009
Child’s tattoo: disfigurement or poor parenting?
FRESNO, Calif. — A judge is set to decide whether mayhem charges carrying a potential life sentence will remain against a Fresno man who had a gang tattoo etched onto his 7-year-old son’s hip.
At a preliminary hearing, attorneys for Enrique Gonzalez and tattoo artist Travis Gorman argued that a tattoo does not meet the statute’s standards of permanent disfigurement. They also raised the issue of which is more painful and permanent — a quarter-sized tattoo or circumcision?
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Hillary Chittick said Monday she wanted time to think about whether the mayhem charge is warranted.
The duo arrested in April are members of a Fresno street gang. They also are charged with crimes related to furthering gang activities.
