In West Macon, Georgia, a tattoo artist and the mother of a 14-year-old boy were taken into custody following an incident where the teenager received a tattoo.
On December 29, 2025, a father contacted law enforcement about his son’s mother, Shamir Womack, after discovering his son had acquired a ‘very inappropriate’ sleeve tattoo.
The specifics of the tattoo and the motivation behind the teenager getting it remain undisclosed.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) incident report reveals the tattoo is located on the teenager’s inner arm, and the father was unaware of the tattoo session.
The father, who has full custody, expressed his intention to press charges against his ex-partner and the tattoo artist, identified as Walter Nesbitt Jr.
Initially, Nesbitt denied tattooing the teenager when questioned by BSO officers, but later admitted to it after Womack brought the teen into the barbershop, according to the report.
The artist admitted that Womack did not sign a consent form for the tattoo and acknowledged that he lacked a license for the service.
Nesbitt now faces charges for unlawfully tattooing a minor under the age of 18.
According to WGXA, Womack was arrested on January 17 and charged with being a party to a crime.
Both Womack and the tattoo artist have since been released from Bibb County Jail on bond.
In Georgia, the unlawful tattooing of a minor can lead to up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both penalties.
Being found guilty of being a party to a crime in the state implies that the individual could face the same penalties as if they had committed the crime themselves, which could mean a similar sentence for Womack.
Even when parents have custody of children receiving tattoos, they can face legal repercussions in Georgia.
In a similar case from 2010, Chuntera Napier was arrested for allowing her 10-year-old son Gaquan to get a tattoo in memory of his deceased older brother Malik.
Malik had died in a car accident, and Gaquan wanted to honor him with the number three on his arm, representing Malik’s basketball jersey number.
Upon discovery by his teachers, authorities were notified, resulting in Chuntera receiving a 12-month probation sentence.
She later commented to the New York Times: “I didn’t make my child do a thing, that was his choice. That was beautiful that he thought of that.”