AEGiS-AP: HIV-Positive Man Jailed for Sex

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV-Positive Man Jailed for Sex

The Associated Press; Wednesday September 2, 1998

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - An HIV-positive man was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday for failing to tell his sex partners about his condition. Phillip Carter of Columbus was convicted by a jury Tuesday of breaking a Mississippi Health Department quarantine order that also required him to use both a condom and spermicide when having sex. He was sentenced to the maximum term.

"People need to realize it is a serious threat to have unprotected sex with this deadly disease out there," Assistant District Attorney Jacque Purnell said. "I'm sure there are a lot of other cases like this one out there, but people are afraid to come forward and testify."

Carter, 45, was accused of having sex in 1993 with man who was unaware Carter had tested positive for HIV in 1991. Carter denied having sex with the man. The Mississippi Department of Health met with Carter in January 1992 and told him to inform any potential sexual partners he was HIV positive. The department later learned Carter failed to inform his ex-wife of his condition before having unprotected sex with her in January 1992, officials said.

Carter admitted having unprotected sex with his ex-wife in 1992 and said it was "my mistake."

The eight-woman, four-man jury deliberated for about an hour and a half Tuesday before returning the verdict.

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