A Peoria tattoo shop owner has been denied pre-trial release after being charged with grooming, following accusations that he sent explicit sexual messages to a 16-year-old. Mario E. Davis, 34, was charged with one count of grooming on Thursday, with Peoria County Circuit Judge Mark Gilles ruling that Davis posed a significant danger to children.
Davis is linked to Black Ink Supply LLC, which operates at the same address as InkCapital Tattoos, located at 7714 North Grand Prairie Drive, according to Illinois Secretary of State records.
The charges stem from an incident in February, when a concerned parent and the 16-year-old came forward to the Peoria Police Department. They presented evidence of explicit messages exchanged on Snapchat between the teen and Davis in the early hours of February 12. The conversation reportedly began with casual topics before turning sexual. Prosecutors allege that Davis knew the teen through an older sibling who had worked at his tattoo business.
According to Peoria County Assistant State’s Attorney Terry Muench, the teenager sent four clothed pictures to the account, which then asked sexually explicit questions. The chain of messages continued until 4:01 a.m., with the teen recording the conversation.
Interestingly, one day before the messages were discovered, Davis had informed police that someone was impersonating him on social media. However, a subsequent investigation confirmed that the Snapchat account belonged to Davis.
Davis was arrested on Tuesday in the 7700 block of North Grand Prairie Drive. A search of his cellphone revealed the explicit messages sent to the teen were still on his device.
During the hearing, Muench argued that Davis’ prior criminal record, which includes a 2016 misdemeanor conviction for tattooing a minor, made him a danger to other minors. Davis also has convictions for obstructing justice in 2012 and 2015. Muench emphasized that no conditions could mitigate the risk to children, noting that Davis’ previous behavior demonstrated a pattern of problematic actions.
Davis’ attorney, Peoria County Public Defender Tim McCarthy, argued that his client was the primary provider for a household of seven people and also employed seven staff members at InkCapital. McCarthy claimed that despite the serious nature of the charges, Davis did not make any further attempts to contact or harass the teen after the messages were sent.
However, Judge Gilles sided with the prosecution, ruling that the risk to children was too great for Davis to be released before trial. He stated that even if Davis’ movements were monitored, it would not prevent him from trying to harm another child. The judge emphasized that protecting children took precedence over Davis’ responsibilities as a family man and business owner.
Davis is scheduled to appear in court again on June 18 at 9:30 a.m. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison and a fine of $25,000.
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