Louisiana Man Agrees Castration, 40-Year Prison Plea for Child Rape

Thomas Allen McCartney, a serial sex offender in Louisiana, has agreed to both surgical and chemical castration as part of a plea deal after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree rape of a 7-year-old girl. McCartney, classified as a 'Tier Three' offender due to a history of child sex crimes dating back to 2006, will also serve 40 years in prison under the agreement. The castration law, which took effect in August 2024, makes Louisiana the only state to authorize surgical castration for offenders convicted of sex crimes against children under 13. Prosecutors and the Vernon Parish District Attorney called McCartney a predator who must be removed from the community, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. While proponents argue the law serves as a deterrent, critics contend it violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. McCartney’s case highlights the state's new legal approach to punishing and preventing child sexual abuse.