Pa. teen uses fork, cookie cutter to brand friend

[September 30, 2009]  NEW SALEM, Pa. (AP) -- State police have charged a southwestern Pennsylvania teen with branding a friend using heated metal objects because the boys thought it was "cool."

Trooper James Pierce, of the Uniontown Barracks, says Tuesday he filed one count of illegal tattooing and body piercing against a 15-year-old New Salem boy with Fayette County juvenile probation officials.

Pierce said the suspect branded his friend, a 15-year-old boy from Uniontown, by heating a fork, key ring, cross, a heart-shaped cookie cutter, and a crucifix over several hours on Sept. 19-20. The brands were on the second boy's arms, shoulder and chest.

Pierce said the boys "thought it was cool," but the victim's parents didn't and alerted authorities.

The boys are not being identified because of their age.

[Associated Press]

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