American mother faces charges for tattooing 'Ride or Die' on her 12-year-old son's hand

Her other son, who is 13, also had his hand tattooed with a lightning bolt

It is against New York state law to tattoo people under the age of 18 (Bethany Clarke/Getty Images)

An American woman is facing charges for allegedly tattooing 'Ride or Die' on the back of her 12-year-old son's hand.

Chantilly Thomas, 34, is also accused of using a tattoo gun to tattoo a lightning bolt on the hand of her other son, who is 13.

On 31 December, police in Chautauqua County, New York, were called to check on two young boys at an address in a rural part of the area.

Police found that the boys were tatooed, and eventually determined that the inkings had been made in November.

Thomas does not hold a license to tattoo people in the US, and New York state law specifies that it is a crime to tattoo people under the age of 18.

She has been charged with the crime of unlawfully dealing with a child, a crime which can carry a fine and prison sentence of up to 90 days, and is expected in court on 20 January, according to local news station WKBW.