Sick serial paedo to undergo ‘surgical castration’ after raping seven-year-old girl

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Thomas Allen McCartney, 37, classified a ‘Tier Three’ offender and considered one of Louisiana’s worst child predators, has agreed to undergo surgical castration

A serial paedophile who tried to rape a seven-year-old girl has agree to be surgically castrated as part of a first of its kind plea deal. Thomas Allen McCartney, 37, is classified a ‘Tier Three’ offender and is considered one of Louisiana’s worst child predators.

He has agreed to both physical and chemical castration in exchange for a reduced prison sentence of 40 years. Louisiana is the only US state to allow surgical castration as a penalty for sexual offences and McCartney is thought to be the first case of its kind after it was brought in to law last year.

He accepted the punishment after pleading guilty Tuesday to attempted first-degree rape of a child under the age of 13, the Vernon Parish District Attorney’s Office. He was arrested in 2023 when a mother caught him trying to sexually abuse her daughter.

He was already a “Tier three” offender — classified for posing the highest risk of re-offending — after being convicted of a string of series sex offences. He was previously found guilty of attempted aggravated rape in 2011.

In 2010, he was arrested on two counts of aggravated rape involving a 12 year old and in 2006, he was held on one count of felony “carnal knowledge” of another girl, a US term for sexual penetration.

Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright said in a statement: “This is a horrific crime that never should have happened. Thomas McCartney is a predator that needs to be locked away from others in our community.”

Louisiana has become the first state where judges can order offenders guilty of certain sex crimes against children to undergo surgical castration under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov Jeff Landry last year. The southern state has allowed chemical castration as a punishment for certain sex crimes since 2008.

Supporters hope the new punishment will deter people from committing sex crimes against children, but opponents argue that it is “cruel and unusual” punishment in violation of the US Constitution.

Chemical castration is a procedure that often involves using medication to reduce testosterone or other sex hormones, lowering sex drive. Surgical castration involves the removal of testicles in men to also stop the production of sex hormones.

If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here2 .