Tattoo artist was statutory rapist, won’t serve more time

A 24-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to statutory rape with a teenage girl that he put a tattoo on and was immediately sentenced to time served behind bars since last fall.

Osbaldo Valadez Espina, who was arrested Oct. 5 at an “encampment” for transients in Laguna Hills, was given credit for 528 days in jail. He was placed on three years of formal probation and was ordered to three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week.

Espina was also accused of giving the girl, who is about 15 to 16 years old, methamphetamine, said Deputy District Attorney Tina Patel.

Espina had some sort of tool he used to apply the tattoo to the victim, Patel said.

Espina pleaded guilty to a felony count of inducing a minor to buy a controlled substance. A sentencing enhancement allegation of using a minor at least four years younger than the defendant for drug transactions was dismissed.

Two misdemeanor counts of tattooing a minor and possession of a controlled substance were dismissed.

— City News Service