California: Man charged with infecting former partner with HIV

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A California man has been charged with infecting a former male partner with HIV.

Thomas Guerra, 29, who is also known as Ashton Chavez, is due to appear in a San Diego courtroom on Thursday.

Mr Guerra, a landscape architect, has been charged by the San Diego City Attorney’s Office of willfully exposing himself to another person with HIV.

The claimant, who has not been named, alleges that Mr Guerra has infected at least two dozen men, some of them minors.

He had previously been in a long-term relationship with the 29-year-old.

It’s claimed Mr Guerra knowingly lied about his HIV status to the unnamed man.

California law requires a person living with HIV to disclose their positive status to potential partners.

San Diego TV station KJRH reports Mr Guerra is currently facing a charge of spreading an infectious disease, which is a misdemeanour in the state.

However, other charges could follow, according to KJRH.

Mr Guerra has not commented publicly on the allegations.

 

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