Marble Falls man arrested for tattooing illegally

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

A Marble Falls resident has been arrested on misdemeanor charges after providing illegal body alteration services – some to minors.

John Michael Castillo, 24, was arrested on two charges of tattoo or body piercing regulation requirements, a Class A misdemeanor, after police said he tattooed several individuals without a license.

Marble Falls Sgt. Trisha Ratliff said police had become aware of the illegal activity in early August when they were contacted by a local parent, who stated her teenage daughter had received a tattoo without permission.

“He (Castillo) has been providing tattoos for numerous people around town,” Ratliff said. “He has given tattoos to juveniles with and without parental consent.”

According to a police affidavit, another parent in Llano County contacted local officials to report that her child had also received a tattoo while in Marble Falls in July.

Ratliff said police are still investigating the issue of the minors who received tattoos, but regardless of the age of his clients, Castillo was “not licensed with the state to provide tattoos,” she said. “We did an all encompassing charge.”  

For the full story, see the Tuesday edition of The Highlander.