MITCHELL – A Mitchell man has been arrested and charged with tattooing a minor without parental consent, following an investigation by the Mitchell Police Department.
Robert Z. Riley, 25, was arrested on June 14, 2025, and faces two counts of tattooing/piercing a minor, a Class A misdemeanor.
The investigation, detailed in an affidavit for probable cause by Mitchell Police Officer Austin McKinley, began in the early hours of Sunday, June 8, 2025. Officer McKinley was initially dispatched to a theft report in the 900 block of Lawrence Street. The reporting parties alleged that a tote containing tattoo equipment had been stolen from their property, identifying Riley as the suspected perpetrator who had left their residence shortly before the incident was discovered. They also noted that several minors had been present with Riley.
Later that same day, one of the minor’s fathers brought his son to the police station for an interview. During the interview, the boy initially hesitated to provide full details but eventually disclosed that he was concerned about Riley’s reaction if he spoke to police about being tattooed.
On Saturday, June 14, Officer McKinley met with the boy and both of his parents at the Mitchell Fire Department. Both parents provided voluntary statements affirming they did not and would not have permitted the boy’s tattoos. The boy also offered a voluntary statement and showed tattoos on his bodycam footage, detailing that Riley had given him the tattoos, along with approximate dates and locations of when he received them.
The affidavit notes that an ongoing investigation is underway into the theft reported by the parties, with Robert Riley identified as the primary suspect.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
