Another HIVer has been sent on a vacation to the slammer for *not*
passing on HIV, and there wasn't even any sex involved.

HIVer Willie Campbell was handed a 35 year prison sentence after being
convicted of spitting at a police officer. Prudent jurors came to the
conclusion that Campbell's 'HIV' antibody positive saliva was a
"deadly weapon."

<http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/051508dnmetspit.2fc6bdb.html>:

----- Begin Quote -----

An HIV-positive man with a history of spitting at police officers and
biting fellow jail inmates was sentenced to 35 years in prison
Wednesday.

Willie Campbell's sentence came one day after the same Dallas County
jury convicted the 42-year-old of harassment of a public servant for
spitting into the eye and open mouth of Dallas Officer Dan Waller in
May 2006.

[...]

Because the jury found that Mr. Campbell's HIV-positive saliva was a
deadly weapon, he has to serve half of his sentence before he is
eligible for parole.

----- End Quote -----

I wonder if Campbell is black?
--
<http://www.hiv-poz.co.uk/>
4,871 days and counting...

On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:14:33 +0100, Martin <martin@hiv-poz.co.uk>
wrote:

[..]

Doh! Of course he is:
<http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa080515_wz_hivspit.101ca1da2.html>.
--
<http://www.hiv-poz.co.uk/>
4,871 days and counting...

On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:14:33 +0100, Martin <martin@hiv-poz.co.uk>
wrote:

A gay rights group is now protesting the sentence.

Oh, the irony.

<http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5787505.html>:

----- Begin Quote -----

A gay-rights group is protesting a 35-year prison sentence given to an
HIV-positive man who was convicted of spitting on a police officer,
and public health officials say the risk of contracting the AIDS virus
from saliva is extremely low.

[...]

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says no one has
ever contracted the AIDS virus from spit.

----- End Quote -----

Oh well, at least it's reassuring to see gay HIV campaigners and the
CDC confusing HIV with AIDS. Hint: HIV is the virus. Many people who
post here have pointed out to me that the V in HIV stands for virus.
Simple, really. Apparently.

----- Begin Quote -----

The Dallas County prosecutor who handled the trial, Jenni Morse, said
any risk is sufficient to find that Campbell's spit could be
considered a deadly weapon.

"No matter how minuscule, there is some risk," she said. "That means
there is the possibility of causing serious bodily injury or death,"
the legal definition of a deadly weapon.

----- End Quote -----

Texas has a reputation throughout the world for its hardline crime
policies. I understand the state executes more prisoners each year
than any other, which is a practice abhorrent to most people in
Europe.
--
<http://www.hiv-poz.co.uk/>
4,874 days and counting...