Update: November 13th
The Aiken Standard reports that Joel Lynn Bedenbaugh was found guilty by a jury of exposing his ex-wife to HIV (although she did not become infected). The ex-teacher was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Paul Burch, to "10 years, suspended on six years in prison and four years probation. Burch also sentenced Bedenbaugh to register as a sex offender, saying that he had to put safeguards in place because of the risk."
He remains under investigation for the separate "alleged sexual assault in 2008 in which he is accused of sexually abusing a girl, who at the time was younger than 11 years old."
Original post: June 6th
A South Carolina man being investigated for sexually assaulting an underage girl has now been charged with HIV exposure following the release of his medical records. The charges relate to both the girl and the man's ex wife.
The Augusta Chronicle reports that the 47 year-old man was charged last year with "criminal sexual conduct involving an 11-year-old girl, allegations that spanned from 2003 to 2005" and that the man's HIV status "came to light during the investigation."
Officers contacted the girl and an ex-wife of [the accused] to see whether they were aware he was infected. Lt. Turno said that when officers learned the two had not been informed, the new charge was pursued. [The man] turned himself in to the Aiken County Detention Center on Thursday and was bailed out the same day.
[...]
According to state law, anyone who knowingly exposes someone to HIV without first notifying the person of their condition can be charged with a felony punishable by up to a $5,000 fine or a maximum 10 years in prison.
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