Lancaster County resident Dusty Lewis Faile, age 39, has come under the lens of the law, charged with tattooing a minor and supplying her with drugs. WBTV reports that after a two-month investigation sparked by an October report, Faile was arrested and charged with several offenses, including first-degree assault and battery, tattooing a minor under 18 years old, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and with intent to distribute substances alleged to be methamphetamine and marijuana.
Local authorities carried out a search warrant at Faile's Camp Creek Road residence, where they detained Faile and several other adults, who have not been confirmed as involved in the incident. The search yielded a tattoo gun, needles, and suspected narcotics. Though Faile posted a $100,000 bond after his December 5 arrest, the gravity of the accusations lingers; he stands accused not only of illegal tattooing, but also of supplying the 15-year-old girl with marijuana and engaging in inappropriate physical contact with her, as The Herald Online elaborates based on statements from the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Doug Barfield.
WCNC Charlotte adds that the collaborative efforts, including the sheriff's office SWAT, Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the State Law Enforcement Division, culminated in the execution of the search warrant that took place earlier this month.
The community response has been one of concern and the need for safeguarding minors against such illicit acts is highlighted not the least with South Carolina laws sternly prohibiting tattoos for those under 18 years of age, for a man to exploit the vulnerability of a minor by marking her skin, supplying drugs, and crossing the boundaries of physical touch is not just unlawful but starkly undercuts the trust placed in adults by the young, and by the society that nurtures them.
For those needing assistance, resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline are readily available, and the hotline can be reached at 800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788, offering aid to victims of domestic violence across North and South Carolina.
