(WSVN) - He had sexually transmitted diseases and didn’t tell his partner, who then got infected. Is that a crime to do to a sexual partner? Let’s bring in Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.
We will call him “Jim,” who thought he had found a partner.
“Jim,” partner had STD: “I fell for this individual, and he wanted a relationship.”
“Jim” asked us to hide his identity. You’ll see why in a second.
“Jim”: “I was celibate for so long.”
But before “Jim” and his partner moved in together and consummated their relationship, Jim wanted to do one thing.
“Jim”: “I tested negative for corona and HIV, and I asked him to get tested with me. He declined.”
A few months later, “Jim” found out why his partner didn’t want to get tested when “Jim” got some blood work done.
“Jim”: I said, ‘Hey, I’m negative for HIV.’ They were like, ‘We know that, but you have to come in and take a shot for syphilis.'”
“Jim” had been faithful and found out he had gotten infected from the partner he trusted.
“Jim”: “Because, according to the Health Department, this person has had syphilis since 2018, and he has also been HIV-positive.”
“Jim” says he was told his partner has had HIV for at least four years.
“Jim”: During the time that I was with him, he was not on medication, and anyone who has a background in HIV/AIDS knows that medication is very imperative if you want to prolong your life.”
At first, “Jim” was stunned.
“Jim”: “He said he was clean. It is evident that your aim was to take the diseases that you were packing or carrying and to spread them to other victims.”
Thinking about that left “Jim” steaming.
“Jim”: “That’s what I really want to do. I want to take both of my hands and strangle him straight to hell.”
But “Jim” is not an irrational guy and now knows what he wants done to a man he once adored.
“Jim”: “What I want is to for him to be picked up, prosecuted and put into treatment.”
Well, Howard, do you have to tell a potential partner ahead of time that you have a sexually transmitted disease?
Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Whether you are a male or a female, and no matter who you have sex with, if you have a sexual disease and know it’s contagious, you have to tell your partner ahead of time. Even if they don’t contract the disease from your interaction, it’s still a crime. Not telling about HIV is a felony, and not telling about all of the other sexual diseases is a misdemeanor.”
“Jim” filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and North Miami Police.
A few days later, a city official wrote to us, “I just wanted to notify you that this is an open investigation, and the North Miami Police Department is pursuing this case.”
Howard Finkelstein: “The purpose of the law is not to prevent people from having unprotected sex. It’s to make sure the other person knows about their partner and the risk associated with unprotected sex.”
“Jim”: “This is someone who has used me, abused me and infected me.”
“Jim” is moving on. He hopes his former partner moves on, too … to jail.
“Jim”: “The detective of North Miami Police said that they would go ahead and pick him up and take him into custody.”
If someone didn’t notify you about their STD, report it to the police in the city or county you had the sex act in. If the man or woman is convicted, they can get up for five years in prison for not telling you they have HIV, up to a year for all other sexual diseases.
With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.
CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.