Five young men, including four adults, were arrested by Concord police after they tattooed a minor with lewd words and drawings.
A 14-year old boy from Concord, NH was pressured and forced by five young male bullies, including adults, to get a lewd tattoo on his body, specifically on his buttocks.
The victim was frequently picked on in school (Concord High School) and in his neighborhood due to his developmental issues. The Concord Monitor reported that the 14-year-old youth was tattooed on his buttocks after the five men, ages 15 – 20 years old), forced him to kneel against a weight bench in the basement of one of the five young men. The tattoo consisted of the words “Poop D–K” and a purported drawing of a penis.
The victim complied due to threats that he would suffer genital assault if he refused. He was also told that all bullying would stop once the tattoo was completed.
Police arrested and charged all of the five young men. The adults, Ryan Fisk, 20, and Blake VanNest, 18, have been charged with six misdemeanors. Their charges include tattooing without a license, criminal threatening and breach of bail (for a separate incident), as well as indecent exposure (Fisk).
The other two adults, Travis Johnston, 18, and Donald Wyman, 20, have been charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The only minor in the group, age 15, will be charged in juvenile court.
So far, the news reported that only one of the five men, Travis Johnston, has apologized for his role in the incident.
In the meantime, the victim has suffered further bullying as school, despite warnings that there will be harsh penalties for those who continued to bully him. Gather News reports that the victim’s parents have removed him from the school and are requesting school officials provide a tutor.
This case brings up all kinds of questions related to culture, parenting and how to deal properly with bullies. It is sad that in this day and age minors like this 14-year-old boy still suffer insults, threats, and pressure from school bullies, especially after what he went through and the fact that he has developmental issues.
