Hernandez Sports New 'Lifetime' Tattoo, Pleads Not Guilty To Witness Intimidation
BOSTON (CBS) - It caught some immediate attention when Aaron Hernandez entered court Thursday wearing a new tattoo on the right side of his neck.
Clearly visible was the word "Lifetime", apparently describing his own situation. But it's a prison violation that carries with it punishment including disciplinary detention for up to ten days, loss of privileges like television, radio and visits. And he could be restricted to his cell for up to ten days.
The Department of Corrections won't confirm if he has already been disciplined.
Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson says he's not surprised Hernandez is building a prison network around him. "He has a very magnetic personality. He knows how to use it better than any inmate I've seen. He's good at using his personality to get what he needs," said Hodgson.
The sheriff says inmates use small motors from fans or electric toothbrushes to create their own tool. Allston tattoo artist Alastair Cameron says pens can be used for ink, and needles from sharpened guitar strings or sewing needles. "Anything that can be sharpened to a fine point," said Cameron.
He says Hernandez's detailed tattoo likely took at least two hours to create and is probably a couple weeks old since it looks like it has already healed. Sheriff Hodgson says a guard watching several inmates at a time was likely distracted. "Inmates have all day to think about how they're going to beat our system."
Hernandez was arraigned for witness intimidation, that witness is his longtime friend Alexander Bradley. Hernandez allegedly shot him in the eye because Bradley confronted him about a double murder in Boston's South End in 2012 for which Hernandez will be tried later this year.
Hodgson says the crude tattoo sends a message behind bars. "In jail, anything that they can get sometimes is worth the extra pain if they feel it will give them some advantage."
