DENVER — Prosecutors have dropped an assault charge against a man who castrated a transgender woman in Denver.

James Pennington, a 57-year-old Chicago-based airline pilot, pleaded guilty Monday to practicing medicine without a license, a misdemeanor, under a deal with prosecutors.

The unidentified transgender woman asked Pennington to perform the surgery and later suffered heavy bleeding. She objected to his prosecution.

Pennington’s lawyer says he offered to help someone who “is a victim of her own body” and is glad that his case brought attention to the struggles of the transgender community.

Chicago’s WLS-TV, which first reported the deal, says Pennington was placed on leave by ExpressJet Airlines after his arrest.

Prosecutors will ask for Pennington to get two years of probation when he’s sentenced Aug. 21.