Former college wrestler goes to trial for allegedly exposing partners to HIV
theGRIO REPORT - On Tuesday, the case of a former college wrestler who knowingly exposed his sexual partners to HIV goes to trial...
The case of former Lindenwood University wrestler who allegedly exposed his sexual partners to HIV went to trial Tuesday.
Michael L. Johnson, 23, whose name on social media is “Tiger Mandingo” was charged with one felony count in 2013, but when the case went public, five other men came forward to say that they had also been exposed to HIV, bringing the count up to six charges, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Prosecutors charged Johnson with criminal behavior after discovering that he knew he was HIV positive but did not tell his sexual partners, despite being directly asked.
The first victim, identified as DTL, said that prior to sex, he asked Johnson if he was “disease-free” and that Johnson said he was, despite the fact that medical records show he was diagnosed with HIV three weeks prior. After their encounter, DTL was diagnosed with gonorrhea and HIV.
One other victim also contracted HIV, and others said that Johnson did not tell them about his condition and did not wear a condom during their sexual encounters. Police have also discovered tapes of Johnson having unprotected sex, but it is not yet clear how many men are depicted in the videos.
For the charges concerning the two victims who contracted HIV, Johnson could face up to life in prison, with the other four charges bearing a maximum sentence of 15 years apiece.
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