A man from Atlanta, Georgia has lost custody of his 2-year-old son after pleading guilty to branding the toddler with the tattoo ‘DB'.

Eugene Ashley inked the initials ‘DB' - short for Daddy's Boy - on son Matthew's shoulder blade.
According to court documents, Matthew received the tattoo sometime between January and May 2009 when he was two years old.

Eugene told the police he was ‘too drunk' and ‘did not remember' inking his son, but when Matthew was asked if the tattoo hurt, he replied, ‘a little bit'.


Social officers came across the toddler's tattoo while visiting the Ashley household after they received complaints from neighbours about the family's living conditions.

Eugene lives with his wife, Amy, and their three other children. He is not Matthew's biological father but adopted him after he married Amy.

Matthew, now three, has been taken into custody by The Division of Family and Children Services in the state of Georgia and will be cared for by his uncle.


Amy Ashley told Fox News, 'There's no excuse for what he did. I mean common sense; you just don't tattoo a three-year-old. She added, ‘I just wish he (Eugene) hadn't done it.'

The boy's uncle, George Hawkins, claims Matthew's mother knew about the tattoo for months and tried to cover it up. She denies George's claims.

Eugene was arrested and charged for tattooing someone under the age of 18; he was sentenced to one year probation and £185 (US$300) fine.