"I'll Accept Castration for a Reduced Sentence": Serial Child Sex Offender in U.S. First to Face New Law

First Case of Castration Law for Offenders Against Children Under 13 in Louisiana
Voluntary Acceptance Under New Law Imposing Additional Sentences for Refusal

It has been revealed that a man in his 30s with multiple prior convictions for child sexual offenses in Louisiana, USA, has voluntarily requested surgical and chemical castration to reduce his sentence. This case marks the first application of the revised law in the state and has caused significant shock in American society.

A man in his 30s with multiple prior convictions for child sexual offenses in Louisiana, USA, has voluntarily requested surgical and chemical castration to reduce his sentence (photo is for illustrative purposes and unrelated to the article). Pixabay

According to U.S. media outlets such as the New York Post and Fox21 on August 21 (local time), Thomas Allen McCartney, 37, from Louisiana, was facing up to 40 years in prison for sexual offenses against children. He reportedly agreed to physical castration in exchange for a reduced sentence.

In February last year, McCartney attempted to rape a 7-year-old girl but was caught at the scene by the victim's mother. He fled the scene with a firearm and was later arrested in Houston, Texas, before being extradited back to Louisiana. During the trial, he admitted to attempted first-degree rape of a child under the age of 13.

The prosecution described McCartney as "a serious threat to the community" and criticized him for committing "a grave crime that can never be tolerated."

This case is the first application of the castration law for sex offenders, which was passed in Louisiana last year. The law allows judges to order chemical or surgical castration at their discretion for extreme sexual offenders targeting children under the age of 13. If the defendant refuses, an additional sentence of three to five years is imposed.

It was found that McCartney had several prior convictions for sexual offenses against children before this incident. He was first arrested in 2006 on charges of having sexual relations with a minor. In 2010, he was indicted for aggravated rape of a 12-year-old child, and in 2011, he was convicted of attempted aggravated rape on similar charges.

Louisiana is currently the only state among the 50 U.S. states where surgical castration is legally permitted. The law took effect in August 2024 and is considered a tough measure to reduce recidivism rates among sex offenders. Currently, about 2,000 people are incarcerated in Louisiana for sexual offenses against children under 13, but the new punishment does not apply retroactively to these individuals.