Animal Sex Abuser Asks For Chemical Castration, Wants Out Of Prison

CROWN POINT, IN — A convicted animal abuser with a record dating back to the 1990s is asking to be released from prison in exchange for undergoing chemical castration. Michael C. Bessigano, 47, of Hobart has been back in prison since January, when he was accused of violating his probation in a 2009 obscenity case. Now, Bessigano, who has a history of sexually abusing animals, is asking a federal judge to release him under the conditions that he undergo therapy and agree to monthly injections of a testosterone-reducing drug, according to the Times of Northwest Indiana.

According to the Indiana Department of Corrections, Bessigano has convictions dating back to 1993, including cruelty to animals and theft/receiving stolen property.

Last week, Bessigano's attorney, Jennifer Soble, filed a request asking the judge to consider the time he's already served and allow his release, according to the Times. Soble said her client is "motivated by sexual desire, not by sadism or any desire to hurt animals."

Bessigano's criminal history includes a conviction for breaking into a barn, sexually abusing and killing a dog, a 2013 arrest for allegedly sexually abusing and killing a guinea fowl, along with a 2009 conviction for downloading bestiality porn.

In the 2013 case, police said Bessigano was found wearing jeans covered in animal blood and attempted to hide the dead bird in a trash barrel.

Lake County Sheriff's Office