Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Chicago Tribune - August 29, 2002
Besides being assigned to perform 200 hours of community service, Nikko Briteramos, 19, also was ordered by Circuit Judge Tim Dallas Tucker to serve 120 days in the Beadle County Jail and not have unprotected sex with any other person without informing them he has the virus that causes AIDS.
Briteramos was the first person convicted under a new South Dakota state law making it illegal for those with the AIDS virus to have sex without informing partners of their HIV status.
The defendant admitted having had sexual intercourse and intentionally exposing his girlfriend to the virus that causes AIDS. Briteramos had been a freshman at Si Tanka-Huron University in Huron. He could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and fined $15,000.
The investigation began when South Dakota health officials found three people in Beadle County, including Briteramos, had been diagnosed with HIV. A fourth person was later found to have the virus.
Briteramos was arrested after health officials said they saw a woman leaving his dorm room on April 23. She was not among those who have tested positive for HIV, officials have said. A court document said health officials had informed Briteramos on March 27 he had HIV and told him he must disclose his infection to all sex partners.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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