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Cops: Man Intentionally Infected Women With HIV

Michigan's David Dean Smith says he exposed hundreds

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 30, 2011 5:29 PM CST

(Newser) – Awful story out of Michigan: Authorities say a 51-year-old man who is HIV-positive confessed to intentionally exposing hundreds of people to the disease through unprotected sex, report MSNBC and the Grand Rapids Press. Court documents say that David Dean Smith harbored a "desire to harm women" and tried to infect as many people as he could.

Police have identified two victims so far, and Smith faces felony charges of not informing them about his condition before having sex. One of the women said she met Smith online and was diagnosed with HIV in 2008. "He hits drifters," she tells WOOD-TV. "He hits people who are young. He hits young women, and from what I understand, he hits men, too. Those are his targets." She said he claimed to have slept with 3,000.

A Michigan man says he infected as many partners as he could with HIV.
A Michigan man says he infected as many partners as he could with HIV.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
fractal
Jan 2, 2012 3:41 PM CST
There are several deadly blood borne diseases that can be  spread by sex.  If we are going to make knowing spreading HIV illegal, we need to make the same laws for Hepatitis B and Syphilis.  Otherwise, this is a biased law. 
WallyEFunk
Dec 30, 2011 9:51 PM CST
FYI . State laws applies and  "Currently the following states do not have statutes specific to the intentional transmission of an STD: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. However, courts may consider the intentional transmission of an STD to be an aggravated assault, as the Texas Courts found in recent years, and prosecute and sentence people pursuant to that theory of criminal law.  And other have slaps on the wrists.. "Not more than 3 months in prison and a fine of not more than $500" "http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/crime-penalties/std-transmission-laws.htm
fractal
Dec 30, 2011 7:58 PM CST
lots of people have had unprotected sex, but not bothered to get tested.  They "hope" they are clean when they have unprotected sex.  Over years.  You know who you are. How much different is that?

 
HIV • HIV/AIDS • David Dean Smith • Grand Rapids

 
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