Man arrested for tattooing 14-year-old

SPRINGTOWN, Texas, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A Texas tattoo artist was arrested on suspicion that he tattooed a 14-year-old, even though the teen's mother had given permission, officials said.

Brian Lee Sporn, 39, was arrested Friday morning and charged with one count of performing tattoos prohibited for certain persons, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star Telegram reported.

The teen's mother, Lydie Krenzke Mathers, 31, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of obtaining tattoos prohibited for certain persons.

Under state law, tattoo artists are prohibited from tattooing anyone under the age of 18.

"I read the law and as a parent I thought I could allow her to do it," Mathers said Sunday.

Mathers said Sporn tattooed a heart with wings on her daughter's side, and an open heart Care Bear with a tail on the teen's hip. He also tattooed the letters SS on her daughter's leg.

"You can hardly see it," Mathers said.

Sporn and Mathers, who are engaged, were both released Friday afternoon after they posted $2,000 and $4,000 bail, respectively.

If convicted of the charges against them, Sporn and Mathers both face up to 180 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.

An anonymous tip initiated an investigation, officials said.