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# Charges dropped against Santa Monica Henna artist
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/charges-dropped-against-santa-monica-henna-artist/
- Published: 2002-09-11T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:43:35.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: local, Promenade, #archive-import

*Criminal case was headed for a jury trial*

The city has dropped seven of the eight charges against a Henna artist who has been repeatedly fined and arrested for performing his craft on the Third Street Promenade.

In exchange for a plea of no contest to one charge of operating a business without a license, the city attorney’s office agreed last week to drop all but one charge against Luke Chanthadara.

A $100 fine stemming from the one unchallenged misdemeanor charge will be suspended for one year as long as Chanthadara doesn’t perform Henna without a proper permit. If Chanthadara complies, the charge will be dropped permanently.

Chanthadara has promised that he won’t continue protesting the city’s street performers ordinance by practicing his art.

Henna artists have been banned from performing on any public street after the city council in October voted 4-3 to eliminate the practice. But Chanthadara has continued to perform — and has continued to be cited by police — arguing that it’s his First Amendment right to do so.

But that all ended July 20 when police seized Chanthadara’s property and arrested him on the Third Street Promenade. Between four and six plain-clothed police officers equipped with a video camera arrested Chanthadara while he drew nonpermanent designs on the skin of tourists.

“I would say it’s a fairly lenient disposition,” said Deputy City Attorney David Fairweather. “Our purpose wasn’t to punish or put him in jail for this. Our purpose is to make sure the laws are enforced and the violations do not continue.”

The agreement between both sides was finalized on Friday, three days before the case was to be sent out for a jury trial, which was expected to last for weeks. “My primary goal is to see that (that) activity is not repeated,” Fairweather said. “I said as long as he is placed under those specific probation terms, then I would be satisfied.”

While both sides are claiming victory, Chanthadara’s lawyer, Paul Mills, said his client will now try to attack the city’s Henna ban through the proper channels, which he believes will be more effective.

“Luke has established himself as a voice the city will listen to on this issue,” Mills said. “Now he is going to work on hammering out a solution with them.

“Without these criminal charges interfering with anyone’s perspective, or people trying to anticipate where someone is coming from because of them, a new working relationship can be established,” he added.

Fairweather said the city attorney’s office will continue to prosecute performers who violate the city’s ordinances that try to regulate them.

“To me he’s not being punished on this particular case,” Fairweather said. “It wasn’t about punishment but enforcing the ordinances regarding business licenses. This (agreement) has some teeth in it because he is on probation and if he violates it then he could go to jail.”

Henna is a non-permanent dye used to draw on skin. But some artists use dangerous toxic chemicals, which has given the 5,000-year-old art form a bad rap in Santa Monica. Some council members think tattooing is not a performance, but a form of cosmetology.

Skin rashes and other complications are caused by “black Henna” or phenylenediamine, a hair dye. Black Henna is cheaper than traditional Henna dye, which is red and has been used for skin decorations and body art for thousands of years.

The three councilmen that voted to keep Henna in the city agree that it’s an art form and should be included under the city’s street performer ordinance — just like a clown who does face painting. Councilmen Kevin McKeown, Richard Bloom and Mayor Mike Feinstein lost to majority vote. Feinstein vowed to bring back the issue again when a new council is elected this fall.

Chanthadara still has a federal civil rights lawsuit pending against the city, but Mills said he is currently trying to reach another agreement that will settle that claim against the city.

“If we can work out settlement with the city that is very possible,” Mills said. “I would say that’s even likely. We didn’t get rid of the federal lawsuit (Friday) but it’s very likely we can deal with it in the next few weeks.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 11, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091102.pdf?ref=smdp.com)