Kentucky Woman Charged With Child Abuse After Allegedly Giving Son, 22 Months, a Tattoo

A Kentucky woman has been arrested and charged with child abuse after she allegedly gave her 22-month-old son a tattoo.

Kentucky State Police troopers arrested Brook McDaniel on Monday, May 4, after officials received a child abuse complaint about her, according to LEX 18 and WNKY.

Troopers from Post 15 were called to a home in Monticello, where they found McDaniel, 27, and her 22-month-old son, according to records obtained by the outlets.

Authorities noted in a situation that they discovered the young boy had a “black dot tattoo on his right forearm” and there was “redness around the area,” per the reports.

Witnesses also told the responding troopers that McDaniel claimed her son “wanted the tattoo” and she referred to the mark as a “party dot.”

In addition to learning that the boy was tattooed, authorities searched the home and noted that McDaniel and her son were living in “deplorable” conditions. In light of the concerning discoveries, the troopers contacted the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to further look into the case, according to the citation.

McDaniel has been charged with fourth-degree assault (child abuse), according to online records.

Following her arrest, she was booked in the Adair County Detention Center on May 4. She is currently being held on a $5,000 cash bond, according to WKYT.

It is not currently clear if McDaniel has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Kentucky State Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.

An investigation into the case remains ongoing.

In the state of Kentucky, fourth-degree assault (child abuse) is considered a Class A misdemeanor. Those found guilty of the crime can be sentenced to serve up to 12 months in jail and can be ordered to pay a fine of up to $500.

A person will be found guilty of assault in the fourth degree when they “intentionally or wantonly causes physical injury to another person” or if their recklessness “causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument,” according to the Legislative Research Commission.

The legal age to get a tattoo in Kentucky is 16 years old with formally written parental consent, according to the Kentucky General Assembly.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.