Search icon

Crime

18th Mar 2023

Convicted child rapist to be chemically castrated

Steve Hopkins

He will also serve a lengthily jail term

A man convicted of raping a girl under the age of 13 is to be chemically castrated, as well as serving 35 years in jail.

A judge made the ruling against Louisiana man, Ryan Clark, this week.

The 34-year-old was also ordered to make no contact with the victim, register as a sex offender for life and forfeit all his parental rights to any children, according to Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux.

Earlier this month, Clark admitted to all four charges against him, including second-degree rape, molestation of a juvenile under 13 and sexual battery.

According to a report by WVUE, Clark was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Brian Able.

Louisiana made chemical castration legal in 2008 as a penalty for those found guilty of certain sex crimes, including molestation of a juvenile, aggravated rape, forcible rape, second-degree sexual battery, aggravated incest, and aggravated crime against nature, the outlet noted (Read about the law here)

Chemical castration involves injections of medroxyprogesterone acetate — a drug that suppresses a man’s sex drive by depleting testosterone levels.

The injections must be administered at least a week before a convicted sex offender is released from prison. The procedure does not cause sterilisation and is not permanent, the New York Times noted at the time the law was passed.

In May 2016, The New York Times reported that a number of countries use chemical castration on sex offenders, often in return for reduced sentences. Other US states to use the punishment include Florida and Wisconsin.

Authorities, according to reports, started investigating Clark in July 2020 after a tip-off about “inappropriate behaviour” between Clark and a minor by a person whom the victim had confided in.

The source said the behaviour had gone on for more than a year.

A possible second victim was also discovered during the investigation, WUUE noted, but said no further information has been revealed about it.

Clark was arrested on July 17, 2020 and charged with sexual battery and molestation of a juvenile, then later also charged with first-degree rape.

In 2015, he was convicted of misdemeanour carnal knowledge of a juvenile for receiving oral sex in a public place from a minor. He served 128 days in jail.

Related links: