by Admin
14/03/2025
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved a bill requiring all child sex offenders to undergo chemical castration before becoming eligible for parole.
The legislation passed on Monday requires that offenders who refuse the procedure must serve their full sentence without the possibility of early release.
House Bill 2422, introduced by Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee), applies to felons over the age of 21 convicted of sex crimes involving physical contact with minors under 13.
The law would only be applied to offenders required to register as sex offenders, and those who are based on mental health evaluations are deemed likely to re-offend if released on parole.
The bill now moves to the Senate, sponsored by Sen. Todd Gollihare (R-Kellyville).
According to a fiscal impact report, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections has received between seven and 299 inmates annually over the past five years who were sentenced for a second or subsequent sex offense.
The average sentence for these offenders is 21 years, with most serving at least 85%, approximately 18 years before parole consideration.
If legislated, the financial impact of the bill would be felt in approximately 18 years, as more offenders remain incarcerated instead of being released on parole.
The current cost per inmate per year is estimated at $7,759.90.
The legislation was introduced in response to a tragic 2023 incident in Henryetta, where a convicted sex offender, Jesse McFadden, murdered his wife and six others, including several children, before taking his own life.
“He murdered his wife, her children, and several of their friends before he could be tried for additional sex crime charges,” Fetgatter stated.
He further said, “I have promised the families of these victims that as long as I’m in this building, I will fight for stricter laws against such offenders to better protect our kids.
While this bill doesn’t solve every issue related to sexual predators, it is a step in the right direction.”
The victims of the Henryetta tragedy included 14-year-old Ivy Webster, 15-year-old Brittany Brewer, 17-year-old Rylee Allen, 15-year-old Michael Mayo, and 13-year-old Tiffany Guess. McFadden, 39, had previously served 16 years for first-degree rape and was a registered sex offender.
At the time of the killings, he was facing new charges for allegedly soliciting sexual conduct with a minor while in prison.
McFadden was scheduled to appear in court on May 1, 2023, but failed to show up.
A bench warrant was issued, leading authorities to his property, where they discovered the victims’ bodies.
Investigators concluded that McFadden shot himself after killing the six others.
If the bill is passed by the Senate and signed into law, House Bill 2422 would make Oklahoma one of the few states to impose chemical castration as a condition for parole eligibility.