Three arrested in NC for Castrations

[eunuchSF (imported)]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190137,00.html

3 N.C. Men Charged With Performing Castrations in Sadomasochistic 'Dungeon'

Friday , March 31, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three men have been arrested on charges of performing castrations on apparently willing participants in a sadomasochistic "dungeon" in a rural house, authorities said Friday.

"It's extremely bizarre," District Attorney Michael Bonfoey said in a telephone interview. "It's incredible the amount of ways that people can find to run afoul of the law."

Sheriff's investigators said Richard Sciara, 61, Danny Reeves, 49, and Michael Mendez, 60, admitted performing at least eight surgeries, including castrations and testicle replacements, on six consenting clients over the past year. None of the three is licensed to practice medicine, officials said.

The suspects, all residents of the house in Heywood County in western North Carolina, where the surgeries were allegedly performed, were arrested Thursday. They were being held on $150,000 bond each and could make their first court appearances Monday, Bonfoey said.

The sheriff's office had investigated reports of sadomasochistic acts at the house in 2004, but concluded there was nothing illegal going on because the participants appeared to be willing adults.

Renewed scrutiny, prompted by a citizen who made "strange statements" to Bonfoey, revealed that illegal surgeries were taking place, the prosecutor said.

Detectives who searched the home Wednesday found medical supplies that included scalpels, sutures, bandages, anesthetic and artificial replacement testicles, sheriff's officials said.

Also seized were [sic] videotaping equipment, and video recordings of the surgeries, sheriff's officials said. Photos and videos made at the "dungeon" were apparently featured on a locally produced sadomasochistic Web site, officials said.

"This right here beats anything I have ever seen," Sheriff Tom Alexander told the Asheville Citizen-Times, which reported that victims may have come from as far away as South America.

Each man faces 10 felony counts — five each of castration without malice and conspiracy to commit castration without malice — as well as eight misdemeanor counts of performing medical acts without a license. Each felony carries a maximum three years and three months in prison, Bonfoey said.

"Assuming that the victims consented to this — and we don't know that for sure yet — that doesn't make it a defense," Bonfoey said. "We can't have people who are not medical doctors lopping off limbs and other body parts."

and even more detail with photos at:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs. ... 31024/1011

[bobbie (imported)]

Here is a more detail news of the story.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs. ... 31024/1011

[tugon (imported)]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I would like to contact Dr. Applebaum and enlighten him regarding his comments.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

I first became aware of this case late last night on peculiarities.com, a site operated out of Wales. So it is safe to assume that this will be well circulated for the duration of the "news event". How unfortunate. --FLO--

[Paolo]

"Assuming that the victims consented to this — and we don't know that for sure yet — that doesn't make it a defense," Bonfoey said. "We can't have people who are not medical doctors lopping off limbs and other body parts."

I don't recall reading about limbs and other body parts.

Suddenly 3 castrations = Jeffery Dahmer?!

S/M scene or not, it looks like what we've got here are some cutters who got caught.

Makes me a bit nervous if there was a computer or 2 in the house...

[tugon (imported)]

One of the first things I learned upon joining the EA is that my cutter had been arrested. He had all the parts and videos in his home. I was afraid there would be a knock on my door and questions to be answered. His roommate had turned him in to the police. I was never contacted luckily.

[OneBallBoi (imported)]

A psychologist in the same interview said that anyone who wants to be castrated is psychotic. So be it. Most of us have strong reasoning for our desire.

[SplitDik (imported)]

I don't recall reading about limbs and other body parts.

Suddenly 3 castrations = Jeffery Dahmer?!

S/M scene or not, it looks like what we've got here are some cutters who got caught.

Makes me a bit nervous if there was a computer or 2 in the house...

Well, actually it was six castrations plus penis removal and urethral relocation.

While I totally understand the desire to be castrated, and also understand why underground cutters fill the need of consensual desire, the reality is that these are serious medical procedures that can even have complications when performed by professionals.

The law probably treats these properly -- no "malice" is involved, and maximum three years for each felony conviction. The news about this has been pretty matter-of-fact, and points out that it was consensual. The psychologist that says castration desire is psychotic is of course wrong, but it is a psychological problem of some sort when you are so ill at ease in your own body.

[bobbie (imported)]

Interesting.

I went to my psychiatrist and he wrote that it was OK for me to be castrated. He also stated in the letter that I was not psychotic! Went to my general doctor and he wrote that it was OK for me to be castrated. My urologist was OK with my castration. Now am I psychotic or just a normal person that has no need for testicles?

I guess I found three doctors that are psychotic?

[thefraj (imported)]

I feel sorry for the people who are currently standing trial. As for the publicity - ironically - I don't think it's really such a bad thing.



Public reading these articles will first wonder "why would someone want that?" which is an entirely healthy (and understandible!) chain of questioning.

Of course, the authors try desparately to tie the cause to the S&M Scene, and make it look like some strange fetish. Of course, this argument is flawed, because participants who come to be castrated, will be forever castrated - even when the kinky scene is nothing more than a memory.

So, just incase people see through this argument, notice the author calls into question the sanity of the participants by using the phrase "limbs or other body parts", trying desparately to tar these individuals as non compos mentis.

We cannot blame them for trying, as always so much easier to sweep these issues under the carpet than to try and understand them.

[Dave (imported)]

I went to my psychiatrist and he wrote that it was OK for me to be castrated. He also stated in the letter that I was not psychotic! Went to my general doctor and he wrote that it was OK for me to be castrated. My urologist was OK with my castration. Now am I psychotic or just a normal person that has no need for testicles?

I guess I found three doctors that are psychotic?

No, none of you are psychotic.

But the rest of the world is...

[Dave (imported)]

* Michael Mendez, 60, of 541 Peace Mountain Road, on charges of castration without malice, maiming without malice and practicing medicine without a license.

* Richard Peter Sciara, 61, of 541 Peace Mountain Road, on charges of maiming and castration without malice, conspiracy and practicing medicine without a license.

* Danny Carroll Reeves, 49, of 541 Peace Mountain Road, on charges of maiming and castration without malice, conspiracy and practicing medicine without malice.

As pointed out before all the charges are "without malice" because with malice was what they did to african americans years ago (and that's not a joke nor intended to be funny)...

And the clincher - - Practicing medicine without a license. No one practices medscine without a license that's protection for society from quacks and charlatans

[numnuts (imported)]

A psychologist in the same interview said that anyone who wants to be castrated is psychotic. So be it. Most of us have strong reasoning for our desire.

Well what do they call 20 year old women who want breast implants? Or a 40 year old woman who wants a breast reduction?

What do they call people who want face lifts and nose jobs and liposuction at the age of 35? (Actors, of course)

And why do women wear make-up? Are they unhappy with their bodys/faces? Isn't that just a mask?

[Paolo]

OK, what I want to know is, was/is castration so common in NC at some point in time, that they had to put a law on the books specifically naming CASTRATION in the law?!?!

"Castration without malice."

So is there also a "Tonsilectomy with or without malice?" law too? - maybe?!

What IS this?

[Dave (imported)]

OK, what I want to know is, was/is castration so common in NC at some point in time, that they had to put a law on the books specifically naming CASTRATION in the law?!?!

"Castration without malice."

So is there also a "Tonsilectomy with or without malice?" law too? - maybe?!

What IS this?

It was called racism and it involved lynching, castration, mutilation and other evil acts against black people. That's why the law was passed to criminalize acts done "with malice" ...

As for

"Tonsilectomy with or without malice

" that's

practicing medicine without a license.

Would you submit to heart surgery without a license? An appendectomy without a license?

[kristoff]

It was called racism and it involved lynching, castration, mutilation and other evil acts against black people. That's why the law was passed to criminalize acts done "with malice" ...

As for [

quote="Paolo" time=1143949740]
"Tonsilectomy with or without malice
[/quote]
" tha

t's

practicing medicine without a license.
[/q

uote]
Would you submit to heart surgery without a license? An appendectomy without a license?

You mean I had to have a license to get my appendix removed? I never had one? Good thing I didn't get a ticket.

Sorry... couldn't resist.

You are point on about racism and the days of mutilation and lynching.... We are not far removed from that time - folks are just more genteel about the lynching today, doing it in other ways.

[thefraj (imported)]

In the usualy fashion - here is a very weird twist from yours truely.

People are quick to band around words like 'illegal'. But laws change. It is only illegal because the current government and laws of today say so.

I would like to question this for a moment.

Even the authorities acknowledge that the men were willing participants. On who's behalf are the prosecutions taking place? And who do they stand to benefit?

I understand the argument for

practicing medicine without a li

scence - that's for the safety of citizens. But what right does the system have to take away people offering help - when this same system would deny that professional help from people desiring castration?

One thing nobody has questioned, is the nature of the 'dungeon' being run. The ORR would easily be called a 'dungeon' of sorts by the media - and it too has videos of the procedure. Yet it provides a very essential service to the public who would otherwise do this in the home - with an even greater risk.

Did the authorities really act in public interest? Or did they act for their own peace of mind - because they want to continue to deny this phenomenon exists?

[JesusA]

The article below is on the front page of the Sunday edition of the Asheville (North Carolina) Citizen-Times. It is far better than I would have expected given both the subject and the section of the country. The Eunuch Archive is mentioned at the end of the article - I've highlighted it in red.

Jon Ostendorff is interested in further information about castration, eunuchs, and cutters and has written to Richard Wassersug to set up an interview. I may also be interviewed by him.

I have looked through the on-line listing of North Carolina statutes, but have been unable to find the one for "

maiming and castration without malice

", though I did find a "Class C" felony, number G.S. 14-28 "Malicious Castration", which immediately follows in the statutes the law against statutory rape of a 13 to 15 year old by someone who is more than 4, but less than 6 years older than the victim.

Suspects in castrations go to court

by Jon Ostendorff, STAFF WRITER

Sunday, April 2, 2006

WAYNESVILLE - Three men charged with performing castrations on at least six men in their Haywood County home will likely go to court Monday.

A judge will advise them of their rights. They will also be given the opportunity to ask for a court-appointed attorney,

District Attorney Michael Bonfoey said

Saturday.

The men

charged in connection with the illegal surgeries are:

o Michael Mendez, 60, of 541 Peace Mountain Road, on charges of castration without malice, maiming without malice and practicing medicine without a license.

o Richard Peter Sciara, 61, of 541 Peace Mountain Road, on charges of maiming and castration without malice, conspiracy and practicing medicine without a license.

o Danny Carroll Reeves, 49, of 541 Peace Mountain Road, on charges of maiming and castration without mal

ice, conspiracy and practicing medicine without malice.

Investigators said in court documents that the three men are "sexual lovers and have a master-slave relationship."

State law requires the hearing for defendants who have not made bond within 96 hours of their arrest. As of Saturday evening, the men were in jail on $150,000 bond each.

Prosecutors will not offer evidence during the hearing.

The first hearing that could provide more details of the alleged castrations and illegal surgeries will be April 12. During that hearing, the state will offer evidence that shows it had cause to believe a crime was committed.

If convicted on the felony charges, the men, who do not have criminal records, could face up to 15 years in prison, the prosecutor said. They would receive probation if convicted on the misdemeanor charges.

Investigators believe that at least six men traveled from across the nation - and one from South America - to learn "slave training" and be castrated by Sciara, whom they called "Master Rick."

Haywood County authorities said Friday the men were castrated during eight illegal surgeries at a house in the Allens Creek community, which police described as a "castration dungeon."

The operations took place from June 2004 to November 2005 in a room off the carport that the participants called the dungeon.

Investigators said they found DVDs of the surgeries when they searched the home on Wednesday. They also found bloody scalpels, an invoice for pain medication and other medical equipment in the home.

They believe the victims willingly participated.

Investigators would not comment on how the men learned to perform the surgeries or whether anyone was paid. Papers filed with the search warrant for the house Friday do not mention evidence of medical training, other than a physician's reference book discovered in a bedroom.

A search of state health board Web sites in Kansas - where Sciara and Mendez once lived - and in Sciara's home state of California showed neither men have medical licenses. Reeves, who moved to Haywood County from Atlanta, does not have a medical license in Georgia, according to that state's medical board Web site.

Lawrence T. Buening Jr., executive director of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, said Saturday that Sciara has never held a license to practice medicine in his state.

Castrations are often performed by urologists or endocrinologists, according to an online resource for transsexuals. One surgeon, who posts prices online, charges $2,000 for the procedure.

Because it eliminates the sources of masculine hormones, orchiectomy - surgical removal of the testicles - is a form of sex change for some people.

But "underground cutters" - a secret network of castrators without medical licenses - are also not uncommon. Stories on the Web site eunuch.org detail experiences with unlicensed surgeons.

Contact Ostendorff at 452-1467 or [email protected].

Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times

Sunday, April 2, 2006

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs. ... AID=/20060

402/NEWS01/60401026/1011

[Dave (imported)]

When a castration was botched here in the western PA area (Pittsburgh) the press, courts and legal authorities were sympathetic and kind to the person being castrated. They also brought only a minimum charge against the cutter. It is the idea of performing the surgery outside of what is viewed as legitimate medical authorities that causes so much grief and consternation.

Change has to occur not in the legal community but in the medical community.

[SplitDik (imported)]

The whole "without malice" aspect is indeed interesting. The laws on the books are definitely "with malice" and in fact some gang members who shot a guy in the groin in N.C. a few years back were charged with exactly that.

But it is like euthanasia -- killing without malice. Is it really a crime?

I think the main thing society/law cares about in this case is what constitutes "consent". All of us can regret decisions, even those we consent to at the time. And the whole submissive/slave thing makes it very complicated. If a person has already given up decision-making to a master, then are their decisions consenual?

If the law determines that it truly was consensual, then they will only be charged with practicing the medicine without a license. If the law determines that those castrated were not fit to give consent, then it gets complicated.

[thepenectomised (imported)]

The whole "without malice" aspect is indeed interesting. The laws on the books are definitely "with malice" and in fact some gang members who shot a guy in the groin in N.C. a few years back were charged with exactly that.

Penectomy/nullo stuff r very hot to me and m very interested in these. I hav been following closely, but can't remember which has the above you mentioned. Any links?

[bobbie (imported)]

Penectomy/nullo stuff r very hot to me and m very interested in these. I hav been following closely, but can't remember which has the above you mentioned. Any links?

first and second post in the thread

[polecat (imported)]

Bonfoey said. "We can't have people who are not medical doctors lopping off limbs and other body parts."

Yes, we must preserve the sanctity of our holy medical industry. :shakemitk

In other news I still have no insurance, and they stuck me on bupropion instead of hormones.

[KewlDawg (imported)]

I have been trying to follow this case myself due to my own interests. Beyond the initial "blast" in the media, I has been difficult to find any real, solid, follow-up articles.

I did find out that the specific law against castration, was passed to stop vigilantes from castrating alleged rapists. It was written to not allow the defense "well, he agreed to it" since the circumstances of any such agreement, by the rapist, would always be suspect. "Well, judge, I gave him a free choice of death or castration, and he picked castration".

I am really interested to see how the prosecutor plays this one out. I doubt he can show that these three men were vigilantes, nor can he show that the victims were rapists. So, when all it said and done, that law should not apply.

Of course, there is still those nasty "

practicing medicine without a license

" charges.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Interesting.

I went to my psychiatrist and he wrote that it was OK for me to be castrated. He also stated in the letter that I was not psychotic! Went to my general doctor and he wrote that it was OK for me to be castrated. My urologist was OK with my castration. Now am I psychotic or just a normal person that has no need for testicles?

I guess I found three doctors that are psychotic?

A couple weeks ago I went to my medical doctor at the VA. As always he was reviewing my file when he found a comment that he had to share. He said 'did you know that you have a 'gender identify problem''. He looked up at me and we both started to laugh, we figure the psychiatrist is the one who put it in there, we laughed some more then he said ?your male right? it this point we were laughing so hard his nurse came in to see if we were alright.

So, what do you think you are, the answer is just what you thought.

River