A 32 year-old Michigan man has been arrested under the State's HIV exposure laws, following a complaint from two women. Widespread publicity - including local media publishing his name and photo - and a police 'fishing expedition' has unearthed two further complainants, both of whom also under 16.
The case highlights many problems with HIV exposure laws, and the way that the privacy of HIV-positive individuals is being invaded through these laws. The media coverage also smacks of moral panic - as if it were totally unheard-of for an HIV-positive person to have unprotected sex without disclosure.
Adding to the complex nature of this particular case is the fact that the man was out on parole (for an unrelated crime) and may have been subject to mandatory HIV testing and subsequent HIV disclosure to local public health authorities. He also worked as a tattooist, and the Michigan police and local TV station journalists also appear to suffer from a stupefying amount of prejudice, stigma and ignorance regarding how HIV is transmitted.
Investigators say Gerald Campbell Jr., 32, of Crystal, didn't inform four women before having sex with them, and potentially 20 others before giving them tattoos. Police say they are not sure if the tattoo needles Campbell used are dirty, but the implications are there.
"I wish that it would just go away," one victim told 24 Hour News 8. "I'm frustrated, angry that he couldn't say nothing to nobody about it."
The woman says she got a tattoo in July and just found out the man who gave it to her is Campbell. She said he never told her about his infection.
Three reports below.
Man faces trial for hiding HIV infection from partners
Friday, September 05, 2008By Pat ShellenbargerA Montcalm County man released from prison a year ago after serving 14 years for assault with intent to commit murder now is jailed on charges he had sex with two women without telling them he is HIV-positive.
Following a preliminary hearing this week, Gerald Ray Campbell Jr., 32, of Crystal, was ordered to stand trial on four counts of violating a 1988 state law requiring anyone infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS, to disclose that information before engaging in sex.
A Carson City woman and a Hubbardston woman testified in Montcalm County District Court on Tuesday that Campbell did not warn them of his infection before having sex with them. A preliminary blood test for the Carson City woman came back negative, but public health officials said it can take as much as six months for the virus to reach detectable levels. The Hubbardston woman did not yet have the results of a blood test taken earlier this week.
Until last September, Campbell was in prison since 1993. At the age of 17, he pleaded no contest to randomly firing a rifle at cars passing his home on East Stanton Road in Crystal Township, wounding a Fenwick man in the shoulder.
Campbell was paroled on Sept. 25, 2007, but was in jail on a parole violation when the allegations surfaced that he exposed the women to HIV, Carson City Police Chief Jeff Hilliker said.
While investigating a theft case, Hilliker stopped by the home of the Carson City woman, he said.
The woman, in her early 30s, told him she recently had received a registered letter from the Central Michigan District Health Department in Mount Pleasant warning she might have been exposed to HIV and urging her to be tested.
While the letter did not name the person who might have exposed her, the woman told Hilliker she had met Campbell at a grocery store last February, and the two began a sexual relationship in March. She also told Hilliker of the second woman, who confirmed she, too, had a sexual relationship with Campbell.
"I went to the jail, and he admitted everything," Hilliker said, but added that Campbell claimed he had advised both women of his HIV status.
It is unclear how the health department learned of Campbell's HIV and the potential exposure of the Carson City woman, but all inmates coming into the state's prisons are tested for the infection. When an inmate tests positive, the Corrections Department notifies the state Department of Community Health.
Hilliker said Campbell apparently told the health officials he had been having sex with the Carson City woman.
Hilliker urged anyone who had unprotected sex with Campbell to be tested for HIV and contact the Carson City police at (989) 584-3515.
Campbell is facing four counts of violating the state AIDS Disclosure Law -- two counts for each woman, Montcalm County Prosecutor Andrea Krause said.
Each count normally carries a penalty of four years in prison and a $2,000 fine, but, since Campbell is charged as a habitual offender, he could face as many as six years in prison on each of the four counts.
Krause said Campbell is the first person to be prosecuted in Montcalm County for violating the AIDS Disclosure Law. The first person charged under the law pleaded no contest in Lake County in 1991.
Man with HIV arrested for not telling sex partners
Sep 5, 2008
WoodTV.comCARSON CITY, Mich. -- What started as a tip to health officials has led to a criminal investigation.
A man who is HIV positive has been arrested for not telling his sex partners and people he gave tattoos about his infection. Police in Carson City say the case is snowballing and the victim list keeps growing.
Investigators say Gerald Campbell Jr., 32, of Crystal, didn't inform four women before having sex with them, and potentially 20 others before giving them tattoos. Police say they are not sure if the tattoo needles Campbell used are dirty, but the implications are there.
"I wish that it would just go away," one victim told 24 Hour News 8. "I'm frustrated, angry that he couldn't say nothing to nobody about it."
The woman says she got a tattoo in July and just found out the man who gave it to her is Campbell. She said he never told her about his infection.
She is not alone.
"Sit there and watch them break down, watch family members break down. There's no words to describe it. It's undescribable (sic)," Carson City Police Chief Jeff Hilliker said.
Investigators say all these victims have been in the dark about Campbell having HIV. Not even his family knew.
"It's a surprise. I didn't know he had AIDS," said Campbell's grandmother.
Investigators have been learning more about Campbell who has a criminal record. He got out of prison last year after serving 15 years for assault with intent to murder.
Officials from area health departments were on a conference call Friday. They are now urging people who have come into contact with Campbell to call police and get tested for AIDS.
"I urge people to think they'll always pass it on. I suppose not every encounter is going to result in an infection but you're playing Russian roulette when you have sex with someone who is HIV positive," said Dr. Robert Graham of the Mid-Michigan District Health Department.
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department is urging anyone who may have had unprotected sex with Campbell to be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. They can call (989) 831-3615 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment for a free, anonymous and confidential consultation.
Crystal AIDS man hit with more charges
Elisabeth Waldon
The Daily News/WZZM.com
September 12 2008STANTON - A Crystal resident who earlier was charged with having sex with two women without telling them that he had AIDS was charged Wednesday with having sex with two underage girls.
Gerald Ray Campbell Jr., 32, originally was charged with two counts of AIDS sexual penetration with an uninformed partner and one count of being a habitual offender involving women from Carson City and Hubbardston.
On Wednesday, Campbell was arraigned in 64B District Court and charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of AIDS sexual penetration with an uninformed partner involving girls from Belding and Crystal.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces a jury trial at a later date. Campbell faces up to life in prison if convicted.
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