A 54-year-old man who pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree rape of a 14-year-old in April will undergo physical castration as part of his sentence.
A bill proposing surgical castration instead of chemical castration for convicted rapists has made progress in the Louisiana legislature. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Regina Barrow, aims to physically castrate individuals aged 17 and older who have been convicted of raping victims under the age of 13. It has passed in both the state House and Senate, and is now awaiting approval from Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.
If signed into law, the bill will require a court-appointed medical expert to determine the suitability of the defendant for surgery within 60 days of sentencing. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections will oversee the procedure, ensuring it is medically appropriate. Those who fail to comply with the court order may face imprisonment for three to five years.
This legislation builds upon a previous law from 2008 that allowed for voluntary castration of sex offenders using medroxyprogesterone acetate. The new bill expands this by authorizing judges to order physical castration for those convicted of sex offenses against victims aged 13 or younger.
One specific case that led to this legislation involved Glenn Sullivan, who pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old girl resulting in her pregnancy. In addition to serving a 50-year prison sentence, Sullivan will be physically castrated as part of his punishment.
The District Attorney praised the victim for coming forward despite threats and adversity, highlighting the bravery it took to speak out against her abuser.
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