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Jail tattoos foiled
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
By FROM BULLETIN STAFF REPORTS -
Three inmates have been charged with arson and other counts in connection with an alleged tattoo operation at the Henry County Jail, according to Henry County Sheriff’s Capt. Ricky Walker.
The incident began June 11 when an officer at the jail smelled smoke while doing rounds, Walker said. The smell allegedly was coming from a small fire built under a “hood” made of paper and toothpaste, Walker said.
The toothpaste was used to hold the paper hood together, he said.
The fire allegedly was sparked by sticking a piece of metal — such as a paper clip — into an electric socket. The resulting sparks were used to set toilet paper and pieces of broken plastic on fire, Walker alleged.
“The little fire under the hood would soot up” the underside of the hood, Walker said.
The soot was scraped off the hood and mixed with water to make ink, he said.
A ballpoint pen and a staple — likely taken from court papers or a magazine, Walker said — were used to construct a makeshift tattoo pen, he alleged. He said the sharp end of the staple was put into the pen to make a pointed object.
The ink was put into the pen, and the inmates allegedly “did successfully tattoo two inmates,” Walker said.
Photos he saw of the tattoos showed a stylized arrow, “a Celtic cross type thing” and some words, Walker said. He didn’t recall what the words said.
One or two of the makeshift tattoo pens were created, he said. The tattoo pens could be used as weapons, Walker alleged.
The men charged had been staying in the same pod at the jail, Walker said. According to Walker and reports at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, they are:
• Byron Joseph Hodges, 26, of 235 Lafayette Ave., Martinsville. He was charged June 16 with felony prisoner: possession of a weapon capable of death/injury; felony prisoner: conspire to commit violation 53.1-203 (conspire to commit arson, according to Walker); and felony prisoner: burn/destroy with explosive.
He was jailed without bond, said the report.
• Richard Lee Bates, 28, of 96 Clearfield Drive, Martinsville. He was charged June 15 with felony prisoner: conspire to commit violation 53.1-203 (conspire to commit arson, according to Walker) and felony prisoner: burn/destroy.
He was jailed without bond, said the report.
• John Christopher Daniels, 28, of 409 Harris Drive, Martinsville. He was charged June 19 with felony prisoner: possession of a weapon capable of death/injury; felony prisoner: conspire to commit violation 53.1-203 (conspire to commit arson, according to Walker); and felony prisoner: burn/destroy with explosive.
All the charges were in connection with an incident June 11 at 3250 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville, the report said. That is the address of the Henry County Jail.
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