Tattoo artist facing additional charges
A tattoo artist who allegedly was found to be in possession of child pornography was formally informed of the charges against him during arraignment in Yuma Justice Court Monday afternoon.
Appearing before Justice of the Peace Juan Guerrero, Joseph K. Yeghoian, who wore a jail jumpsuit and shackles on his wrists and ankles, was told that a criminal complaint had been filed against him, charging him with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
In addition to advising him of his rights, Judge
Guerrero also scheduled Yeghoian’s next court appearance - a preliminary hearing - for 4 p.m. on Dec. 27. When bond was addressed, attorney Theodore Abrams of the Yuma County Public Defenders Office requested that his client’s bond remain at the $25,000 it had been set at during a previous hearing.
Abrams argued that Yeghoian was a business owner, had family ties to the community, and therefore should not be considered a flight risk.
Judge Guerrero, however, denied Abram’s request and ordered that Yeghoian’s bond be increased to $50,000, which was the amount the prosecution had been requesting.
According to Yuma police, the Department’s Child, Family and Sex Crimes Unit received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an unknown person who lived within the city had online accounts that held images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
An investigation was begun and those online accounts were traced back, and resulted in Yeghoian allegedly being identified.
During the course of the investigation Yuma police also allegedly found secretly-recorded videos of women who were filmed inside his business of Hammerhead Tattoo, which is located at 2855 S. 4th Ave, Suite 123.
Yuma police are also requesting that anyone who got a tattoo from Hammerhead, and was undressed in any way to contact the department to speak with the detective assigned to the case.