Spartanburg Resident Arrested on Criminal Charges for Knowingly Exposed Male Partner to HIV

A man from Spartanburg County, SC has been arrested on criminal charges for knowingly exposing a partner he met through a dating website to HIV. He faces felony criminal charges for the HIV accusation.

Harry Medina, 47, was arrested by investigators on Thursday, September 18th, when the male victim reported to police that Medina was HIV positive, and knew it when the two had sexual relations.

Medina and the victim met through a dating website in December last year, and had a sexual relationship until August of this year, according to the arrest warrant.

When arrested for knowing exposing his partner to HIV, Medina reportedly admitted to police that he had been diagnosed 15 years prior, and intentionally did not disclose that information when he began the sexual relationship with the victim.

Knowingly exposing a partner to HIV is a serious felony criminal charge in South Carolina. If convicted on the criminal charge, Medina faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $5,000. Medina was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.

Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office requests that anyone else who has had sexual contact with Medina contact their office immediately at 864.503.4610.

Prosecution of Communicable Diseases, Including HIV

South Carolina law states clearly: “It is unlawful for a person who knows he or she is infected with HIV to: (1) knowingly engage in sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, or oral) with another person without first informing that person of his HIV infection; (2) knowingly commit an act of prostitution with another person; (3) knowingly sell or donate blood, blood products, semen, tissue, organs, or other body fluids; (4) forcibly engage in sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral) without the consent of the other person, including one’s legal spouse; or (5) knowingly share with another person a hypodermic needle/syringe without first informing that person that the needle or syringe has been used by someone infected with HIV.”

Knowingly infecting other people is a serious criminal offense, whether the infection is Hepatitis C or HIV. It can be considered assault with intent to do bodily harm. If the crime occurs across multiple state lines, it becomes a federal issue.

Assault and battery are two different but related crimes that frequently happen simultaneously and, as a result, are usually prosecuted jointly. Assault involves the act of threatening to injure someone, while battery refers to the actual act of violence. Both assault and battery are taken extremely seriously in a court of law and carry heavy penalties including jail time and more.

If you cannot file for criminal or federal charges, personal injury lawsuits can help you recover medical costs and punish the person that infected you. Medical malpractice personal injury lawsuits can also help a medical professional from continuing dangerous practices that could lead to the spread of disease.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Charges for Knowing Exposure to Diseases like HIV

If you or a loved one have been injured, harmed, or killed from contracting serious communicable diseases like Hepatitis C, HIV, or meningitis, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help get you the compensation you deserve, to get you through these tough times. We are licensed to practice across South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. To help you with your case, we offer free, confidential consultations. Do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800