Couple denies tattoo charges
Toolbox
By Gordon Dritschilo Herald Staff - Published: December 18, 2007
A West Rutland couple is facing charges for allegedly giving tattoos that infected a number of people.
Michael C. Mills, 30, whose address was listed as a West Rutland post office box, pleaded innocent Monday in Rutland District Court to three charges of unlicensed tattooing, a misdemeanor. His wife, Tiffany D. Mills, 27, pleaded innocent to a single charge.
The Millses were released on the conditions they stay away from the three people they allegedly tattooed and not purchase, possess or use any tattooing or piercing equipment.
The Millses came to law enforcement attention after three of their alleged clients wound up at Rutland Regional Medical Center with methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection commonly abbreviated as MRSA.
One of the alleged victims — none of whom were named in affidavits — told police she paid the couple $40 for a pair of tattoos on her back and one on her wrist and that two of the tattoos became infected.
Police said they heard similar stories from the other two, with one saying he had an arrangement with Michael Mills in which he would receive an hour of free tattooing time for every three hours of referrals he sent Mills.
A search of the Mills residence turned up a variety of tattooing equipment — including sterilization equipment such as an autoclave — invoices and a catalogue from a tattoo supply company and drawings of tattoos, according to affidavits. Police said one of the drawings matched one of the victims' tattoos.
Michael Mills also sold a number of pieces of tattooing equipment to a local licensed tattoo artist, police said.
Michael Mills objected to the confiscation of his tattoo supplies, saying "You are taking away my livelihood," according to affidavits.
Tiffany Mills denied having tattooed any of the alleged victims, saying they each borrowed equipment from the Millses to do their own tattoos and she and her husband had MRSA infections as a result, according to affidavits. She said she and her husband only tattoo themselves and family members at no cost.
If convicted, Michael Mills would face up to three years in prison and $15,000 in fines. Tiffany Mills would face up to one year and $5,000. The two are also facing cocaine charges from a separate incident, and Michael Mills also pleaded innocent Monday to violating his conditions of release on a previous charge and a fourth offense of driving without a license.
Contact Gordon Dritschilo at gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com.
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