Tats for Tots? Tahlequah Man Accused of Tattooing Young Children

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — A Tahlequah man is in jail after prosecutors accused him of tattooing his 10-year-old and 5-year-old cousins.

Authorities say 23-year-old Rocky Gritts was charged with two counts of felony child abuse by injury for allegedly giving permanent tattoos to the two boys. The Muskogee Phoenix reports that a school resource officer notified authorities after the 10-year-old showed up at school with tattoos on his hands.

Mike Moore, an investigator with the prosecutor's office, says the student told authorities that his 5-year-old brother had also been tattooed by Gritts.

Gritts is being held in the Cherokee County jail on $15,000 bond. Court records do not list an attorney for Gritts.

He's due in court Nov. 28 to determine a date for his preliminary hearing.