A federal jury in New York City is deliberating in the trial of two men charged with scheming to abduct, rape and kill women and girls.

Deliberations began Wednesday in the conspiracy trial of retired Manhattan high school librarian Christopher Asch and mechanic Michael Van Hise. Van Hise is from Trenton, N.J.

They're not accused of actually kidnapping or harming anyone. But prosecutors say the two aimed to turn disturbing fantasies into deadly action. Defense lawyers say the men just thought up scenarios no more real than horror films or violent pornography.

The prosecution grew out a case against a police officer accused of plotting to kidnap and kill women and eat their flesh.