An appeals court has upheld a 15-year prison sentence given to a man who exposed several women to the virus that causes AIDS.
Albert Spicer III was charged in Jackson County with 25 counts of recklessly exposing another person to HIV infection. Spicer was diagnosed with HIV in 1992. He had sex with as many as seven women between 2002 and 2004 without informing them of his status. One of the women later tested positive for the virus.
Spicer, 43, pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts in 2006. His sentencing report recommended prison terms ranging from six years to 10 years. Judge Jay A. Daugherty imposed the 15-year sentence requested by the prosecutor's office.
Spicer appealed, arguing that the sentence violated his right to due process.
The Missouri Court of Appeals ruled last month that Spicer's claim had no merit. The court said Spicer knew that his sentence could range from five to 15 years. In arguing for the maximum sentence, the prosecutor's office stated its concern that the software used to build the sentencing report took into account only one victim.
Spicer is incarcerated at the state prison in Bonne Terre.
Before he entered his plea, Spicer reportedly asked for a private hearing. He invoked a 1988 state law designed to protect those with HIV/AIDS from discrimination.
like
dislike
