[Update] US: Iowa man faces felony charges for alleged HIV transmission

Prosecution

Hampton man enters guilty plea for spreading HIV

November 3, 2016
Source: NIT

FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA – A Hampton man facing felony charges after a tryst in hotel room that spread a dangerous disease has entered a guilty plea.

IX, age 34, stands charged with third-degree sexual abuse and criminal transmission of infectious disease to another person.

Court documents show the alleged crime took place March 13 reportedly in an Oelwein hotel room, when X met a female there he had been chatting with over the internet. The Waterloo Courier obtained court documents that show X is HIV-positive and knew of his diagnosis yet proceeded to engage in sexual activity with the alleged victim, a young woman.

An arrest warrant was issued May 3 after charges were brought by Oelwein police. He was arrested by Hampton police May 4 and taken to Fayette county, where he remains held in the jail there on $50,000 bond.

On October 28, X and his lawyer entered a guilty plea. He will be back in court of November 7.

Prosecution

US: Iowa man awaiting trial placed on house arrest to save county jail paying for his HIV medications

July 8, 2016
Source: Globe Gazette

WEST UNION — A defendant in Fayette County accused of transmitting an infectious sexual disease is out of jail because he is HIV positive and prescribed expensive medications.

According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, IX, 34, is under house arrest in Franklin County and wearing an ankle bracelet monitored by Fayette County Jail staff around the clock. He also receives periodic in-home and phone checks.

Bond for X, of Hampton, was set at $50,000 cash only in May by Magistrate Larry Woods.

But Assistant Fayette County Attorney Nathan Lein about a month later asked the court to place X under house arrest.

According to Lein’s motion, X’s HIV medication costs $3,000 a month. Under home detention, X, not the county, will pay for his medication.

X is charged with criminal transmission of HIV and third-degree sexual abuse, both felonies. He was taken into custody in May in Franklin County, and a jury trial is scheduled to begin July 27.

X’s alleged victim was a girl younger than 18 years old, according to court documents. The pair met online and later visited the Parkview Motel in Oelwein.

Court documents describe the girl as “mentally incapacitated.”

The decision to place X on house arrest runs contrary to a recommendation made earlier by Seth Bonnette, a probation and parole officer with the Iowa Department of Correctional Services. He called X a danger to the community.

In court documents, X said he is a contractor, but Bonnette described him as unemployed and living with his mother in Franklin County.