Nationwide — Thomas Allen McCartney, a 37-year-old man from Leesville, Louisiana, has agreed to physical and chemical castration and a 40-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to trying to rape a 7-year-old girl.
McCartney recently entered his plea in Vernon Parish court, according to WLBT. With the plea deal, he will serve his prison sentence while undergoing castration measures aimed at preventing future sexual offenses.
Authorities said McCartney was arrested in 2023 after being caught sexually abusing the child. Prosecutors described the case as disturbing, given his long history of sex crimes involving minors.
Court records show McCartney had multiple prior arrests. In 2006, he was charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. In 2010, he faced two counts of aggravated rape of a 12-year-old. A year later, he was convicted of attempted aggravated rape and registered as a Tier 3 sex offender, the highest level in Louisiana.
Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright called the case disturbing and said McCartney posed a clear danger. “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,” Lambright said.