

DENVER — A Colorado man accused of performing an illegal surgery to remove a transgender woman’s testicles could spend years in prison, but the woman doesn’t want that.

KUSA-TV reported Thursday that the woman had asked 57-year-old James Pennington to do the surgery. She says she doesn’t want to press charges — but that decision is up to the district attorney.

Pennington is charged with second-degree assault and unauthorized practice of medicine.

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The woman’s lawyer David Beller had said his client feels the surgery had been an act of compassion. Beller says she “begged” Pennington to perform the surgery.

Beller says many transgender people do not pursue legal surgery for changes to their bodies because of the high cost and lack of insurance coverage.