Ex-lover speaks about man accused of performing illegal circumcisions

KENT COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – New information is coming to light about a Kent County man who deputies say portrayed himself as a doctor and performed surgeries, including circumcisions.

Thomas Heugel has been charged with having an unauthorized medical practice, and performing an occupation without a license, both of which are felonies.

Deputies think Heugel may have performed procedures on people who thought he was a medical doctor.

On Thursday Newschannel 3 spoke to people close to Heugel about what's really going on. We do want to warn you some of the material in this story could be offensive to some.

A man who says he's Heugel's ex-boyfriend spoke to Newschannel 3. He didn't want to be identified, we'll call him Jim.

“I alerted the police,” said Jim. “I felt it wasn't right what this man was doing.”

Jim says he watched Heugel perform a circumcision on a 21-year-old man from Canada.

“I thought he was joking,” said Jim. “I thought he was just, piercings is one thing, but when you cut somebody's skin, and remove it, and enjoy it.”

Jim asked Heugel to get help, knowing that he was breaking the law. After all, he says Heugel's not a doctor and isn't formally trained.

“Still to this day he doesn't think he did anything wrong,” said Jim, “and still to this day he thinks he's right.”

Failing to convince Heugel, Jim turned the case over to Kent County Sheriff's deputies, and prosecutors charged Heugel with several crimes, alleging he did massages and body piercings for people, and did multiple circumcisions on adult men.

Jim says Heugel took sexual satisfaction from it.

“I could see the enjoyment on his face when he was doing it,” said Jim.

Newschannel 3 also spoke to a woman who says Heugel performed a procedure on her.

“For a very good reason, he's not licensed, this isn't the right thing to do,” said neighbor Maria Horn.

Horn says Heugel adjusted her back.

“He adjusted my back,” said Horn, “I am glad he did.”

Horn says he did the procedure for her, and others because many couldn't afford to go to the hospital.

Deputies say Heugel advertised his services on websites.

“A lot of people these days want to get piercings, want to get their body altered and want to do it the cheapest way possible,” said neighbor Laurence Benson, “and it's not right, their lives are in danger, and he just takes advantage of it.”

As for Jim, he's preparing to testify against his former lover and wants the cutting to stop.

“It's very scary,” said Jim, “piercings are one thing, but one you surgically remove body parts.”

Newschannel 3 has also learned that Heugel has represented himself as both an ordained minister and paramedic.

If convicted, he faces prison time.