Man arrested after allegedly withholding HIV-Positive status from partner
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and the Florida-Caribbean Regional U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested a man accused of not disclosing his HIV-positive status to a sexual partner.
According to BCSO, he was in a relationship with the victim between January and May 2026.
BCSO says the victim reported the relationship ending when the man arrested became increasingly controlling. After the breakup, she discovered he had been charged and convicted twice before for engaging in sexual activity without telling his partners of his HIV-positive status, according to BCSO.
The victim says he admitted he didn’t tell her of his HIV status when she confronted him. She says he claimed he thought he had protected her by wearing protection and taking his prescribed medicine.
The victim told investigators she didn’t learn of his HIV status until after their relationship ended May 15, 2026.
Under Florida law, HIV-Positive patients who can transmit the virus must disclose their status to their partner before engaging in sexual activity.
