Round Lake Park man accused of illegal tattooing

A registered sex offender is accused of violating state law by not having a license when he tattooed a woman and teenager last week, police said.

John E. Cate, 35, of 302 Timbercreek Drive, Round Lake Park, tattooed the woman and teen during a party in a mobile home park about 9:45 p.m. Aug. 29, authorities said.

Cate was charged with operating an unlicensed tattoo business and unlawful delivery of alcohol to a minor, both misdemeanors, Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said. Cate is free on bond, with a Lake County court date set for Sept. 29.

Filenko said Justin S. Fredricks, 18, of 276 Newhouse Drive, the party host who received tribal tattoos on both forearms from Cate, was charged with being a minor in consumption of alcohol.

Police said they were summoned to the Newhouse Drive address by Fredricks' father when he returned home and discovered what was called a tattoo party with beer and rum.

Filenko said Cate charged a minimal fee for his work on Fredricks and a cover-up tattoo on the 26-year-old Spring Grove woman. He said while investigators haven't found Cate's tattoo equipment, a witness told them about what happened at the party.

Cate was convicted of a sex offense against a girl in Georgia in August 2005 and served prison time there, Filenko said. Cate, who is unemployed, is properly registered as a sex offender in Round Lake Park.

Filenko said Round Lake Park doesn't issue tattoo license to anyone convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude. He said anyone with information about other tattooing activities by Cate should call Round Lake Park police at (847) 546-7275.