Alleged circumcision victim 'deceived'

SPARTA, Mich. (WOOD) - One alleged victim of Thomas Heugel said Heugel had him fooled last summer, convincing him he was a doctor.

Heugel also encouraged the 21-year-old man, who has a mental disability, to undergo a procedure the alleged victim said he didn't want to do.

"Mr. Heugel or whoever told me that he had medication and that the surgery -- that needed to be done," the alleged victim said.

Heugel circumcised him, the alleged victim said, and pain medication was not used.

Prosecutors on Wednesday filed criminal charges against Heugel, of Sparta, after investigators said he performed circumcisions on adult males without a license.

He had a "a makeshift operating room in his house," according to a Kent County sheriff's lieutenant.

"It was a good-sized room," the alleged victim said. "He had needles on one shelf -- pretty much looking like a doctor's office."

Heugel is not and has never been a doctor. He has been released from the Kent County jail on $5,000 bond.

"I don't like him being out on the streets," the alleged victim said. "I don't know what he's doing."

The man met Heugel through a mutual friend, and shortly after, Heugel asked to see him naked. Next, Heugel brought up the idea of wanting to circumcise him.

"It was (Heugel's) idea," the man said. "My idea was 'no' and he convinced me with his idea."

Heugel spoke with 24 Hour News 8 at his home Sunday, but refused to go on camera. He wouldn't confirm or deny the charges against him, but said he didn't take advantage of this victim and never meant to hurt anyone.

When a reporter told Heugel he spoke to someone involved, Heugel asked if it was a victim. When the reporter answered "yes," Heugel asked, "which one?"

The alleged victim said he was friends with Heugel until the incident. And it happened more than once, he said.

"(Heugel) did it wrong the first time and then, a couple days later -- well, weeks later -- when it was healed up, he did it again," the man said. "If I went to the doctor, it would cost me more. So, he did it for me for nothing."

He was unwilling but felt convinced and forced, the alleged victim told 24 Hour News 8.

"He picked on the weak guys, like me, for example," the man said.

The alleged victim's procedure wasn't done properly and needed to be re-done.

He spoke with his family nearby, who also wanted the truth revealed about Huegel. The family wanted to make it clear that the victims in this case were not all consenting adults.

"This is a crime with true victims in the sense of picking on the weak, picking on the mentally disabled," the alleged victim's foster mother said.

The family wants to know how many other victims there are.