PORT ALLEN, La. - A convicted child molester in Lousiana has undergone surgical castration in order to be released from prison on parole.

Francis Phillip Tullier, who had faced hundreds of molestation counts involving young girls, pleaded guilty to three counts in 1999 and was sentenced to 27 years in prison. He is now 78.

His lawyer, Nathan Fisher, said the deal stipulated that Tullier would only be eligible for parole once he underwent castration at his own expense.

A sheriff's investigator said the surgery was done Thursday after being delayed several years while Tullier was treated for various medical issues.

The Advocate newspaper reports that Tullier is due for release next week. He will live in Iberville Parish and has to register as a sex offender.