HIV Positive Man Faces Life Jail Term For Having Unprotected Sex With 300 People Over 10 Years

A southeast Missouri man infected with the virus that causes AIDS faces a criminal charge of reckless exposure for knowingly having unprotected sex with another man who also became infected.

David Lee Mangum is thought to have had unprotected sex with around 300 people without telling them he had tested positive to the deadly virus, including 50 to 60 in Stoddard.

The charge comes after Mangum’s former live-in partner tested positive for HIV in July at the county health department. The victim said he first met Mangum in October 2012 through a Craigslist ad. He says Mangum assured him that he no communicable diseases.

Mangum is said to have told police that he frequently knew little more than the first names of his partners which is complicating efforts to notify potential victims.

Under Missouri law, knowingly exposing another person to HIV is a felony.

If the victim goes on to become infected with the virus - which leads to progressive failure of the immune system allowing life-threatening infections and cancers to thrive - the accused faces a possible sentence of life in prison.

'Mangum admitted he never disclosed he had HIV to any of his sexual partners in Stoddard County,' according to a criminal affidavit reported by the Daily News.

Mangum is alleged to have told officers investigating the allegations that he did not tell sexual partners about his infection because he feared being rejected.

Judge Stephen Mitchell has set an all-cash bail of $250,000 in the case, and while awaiting trial, Mangum remains locked up at Stoddard County Jail.

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