By Malcolm Hall
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Feb 09, 2010 @ 07:43 PM
LOUISVILLE —

A 20-year-old man who police say put a tattoo on the rear end of a 1-year-old girl is facing a felony child endangering charge.

Lee. M. Deitrick is accused of applying the tattoo in early November while the child was visiting his home at 1317 W. Main St.

The tattoo, which is the letter “A,” could not be removed, according to a complaint police filed with Canton Municipal Court.

The child was brought to the home by a female relative, according to Police Chief Andrew Turowski. Deitrick is not the girl’s father, the chief said.

It was not clear why the child was given a tattoo or what the “A” signifies.

“It is hard to fathom why someone would try to do that,” Turowski said. “It was at his residence. The female relative was the only one with the child, so I guess it is safe to say she was baby-sitting. I would not call her a suspect at this time.”

Stark County Department of Job and Family Services social workers notified police of the tattoo.

A woman identifying herself as Deitrick’s grandmother, with whom he lives, recalls the infant’s 16-year-old aunt being the one who was with the girl when the tattoo was applied.

“It is only like a wee-little hairline,” Linda Texter said. “I just know there is barely anything left. I think it is awful that it happened.”

The child and her mother are Canton residents, according to Texter.

“We have nothing to suggest the mother gave permission to do it (apply the tattoo),” Turowski said.

Deitrick, as of Tuesday, was in the Stark County Jail under a probation hold.

The endangering charge is a third-degree felony. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.