Sex offender who asked state to castrate him after molesting kids released from jail in San Antonio

Larry Don McQuay, 52, was released July 31, 2016, from the Bexar County Detention Center after serving 11 years in a work-release program. Larry Don McQuay, 52, was released July 31, 2016, from the Bexar County Detention Center after serving 11 years in a work-release program. Image 1 of / 92 Caption Close Sex offender who asked state to castrate him after molesting kids released from jail in San Antonio 1 / 92 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A sex offender who pleaded for state jail officials to castrate him following two child sex assault convictions in the '90s was released from the Bexar County Detention Center on Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

Larry Don McQuay, 52, finished serving more than 11 years of a 20-year sentence in a work-release program at the Bexar County Jail on Sunday, said Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark.

Clark said McQuay was being monitored as part of the TDCJ’s Super Intensive Supervision Program, highest level of security for offenders in a work-release program, according to the Houston Chronicle.

RELATED: Freed sex offender ordered back into state program

He had been in the work-release program in San Antonio since May 3, 2005, and was at a facility in Huntsville before, but "McQuay is no longer on parole supervision with TDJC," Clark said in an email.

He was convicted around 1990 for indecency with a child for sexually abusing a 6-year-old boy. He was then later convicted around 1997 on the same charge for sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl, who was related to the boy he molested years before, according to the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry website.

RELATED: Police increase reward for 'Most Wanted' sex offender

McQuay worked as a school bus driver and at SeaWorld while living in Bexar County before his convictions, according to the Houston Chronicle.

His second conviction occurred after he was paroled in 1996, at which time McQuay also asked to be castrated, the Houston Chronicle reported.

He made claims that he had molested children more than 240 times and would do so again, going as far as killing his victims, in order to keep them from identifying him to police. He said he later regretted those statements because he was trying to add weight to his castration plea, according to the Houston Chronicle.

McQuay’s lawyer told the Houston Chronicle in 2005 that his defendant had underwent surgical castration within a year of that interview. McQuay pleaded to have the operation done, believing the surgery would reduce his urges and likelihood to commit crimes against children again in the future, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Clark said he could not release information regarding the apparent surgery on Tuesday because of "privacy laws."

His desire to be castrated led the Texas Legislature to pass a law in 1997 that allowed the state to offer surgical castration to pedophiles in prison, but only on a volunteer basis, according to previous Houston Chronicle reports.

The procedure, called a an orchiectomy, involves surgically removing a person's testicles, according to WebMD.

An orchiectomy is approved under Texas Government Code 501.061, which states the procedure must come under a volunteer basis for inmates who admit to the crimes they have been accused of involving sexual assault. Repeat offenders are considered candidates for this surgery, according to the Government Code.

Texas became the first state to allow this kind of voluntary surgical activity for inmates, according to the New York Daily News.

RELATED: San Antonio masseur accused of sexually assaulting woman during birthday massage

Those involved in the SISP must be monitored by GPS technology and are required to comply with a strictly regulated, 24/7 schedule that is approved by a parole officer.

Clark said McQuay was able to go to job interviews, work, medical appointments and other approved activities.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office would not comment further on their involvement with McQuay's case.

Renee C. Lee, Robert Crowe and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite