Alex Boyko trial: Metro Detroit tattoo artist faces jury in sexual misconduct case

DETROIT (FOX 2) - A prominent tattoo artist from Metro Detroit is facing a jury after he was charged with sexual misconduct more than four years ago.

UPDATE 4/12/24 - Jury finds Alex Boyko not guilty

The jury in Alexander Boyko's trial was seated Wednesday, and prosecutors presented their case Thursday.

Boyko was charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in late 2019 after an allegation that he fondled a woman while tattooing her in 2015. In court in 2019, the woman described how Boyko traced her torso onto paper before allegedly touching her breasts with both hands. More details about the actions that led to the charges are expected to come out during the trial.

Though the allegations from that client led to the charges, she isn't the only person to accuse Boyko of wrongdoing.

On Thursday, two witnesses testified against Boyko in court.

"He took his p*nis out of his pants and put his hand on top of my head and started to push my head down," one woman testified. "I was shocked, I was taken aback, I was confused – because at no point had that been discussed."

However, prior to that incident, the victim said he kissed her when they took breaks from the tattooing and that she was OK with it. She also testified they had been flirtatious with each other prior to this meeting, which was in 2015.

Meanwhile, another witness and tattoo client testified that Boyko sent her inappropriate texts and explicit photos when she was only 17 years old. The victim said she also sent photos in return, which Boyko asked for.

"I was really going through a rough time at that age, especially – more than any 17-year-old should be going through," she said, adding that he later grabbed her rear-end while he was tattooing her calf, without permission.

"This is not a civil case, this is a criminal case. They’re not here looking for money, they’re here looking for accountability," the prosecutor said in court.

But the defense painted a very different picture.

"You can see all the witnesses kinda know each other - it's a smear campaign," Boyko's defense attorney told the jury. "I ask that after you deliberate, to return the verdict of not guilty on all counts."

An article posted on Jezebel before Boyko was charged included stories from numerous women claiming that the tattoo artist touched them inappropriately. The article also noted that upwards of 200 women had posted allegations against him online, though many of those accusations were made anonymously. 

Friday morning, jury deliberations will begin in Boyko's trial.