Private First Class Johnny Lamar Dalton ain’t getting first class treatment at Cumberland County jail, where he’s being held on a $50,000 bond for infecting an 18-year old male lover with HIV.
The 25-year old soldier from the 22nd Aviation Support Battalion has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, a misdemeanor assault charge and a “crime against nature,” military speak for anal sex, which is strictly prohibited for American soldiers.
North Carolina’s WRAL elaborates:
Dalton first met the unidentified boy, 17, in a gay online chatroom and then in person, said the boy’s mother.
In November, Dalton’s commander ordered him not to have sex without first telling partners of his illness, said a spokesperson for the 82nd Airborne. Dalton also signed a written order to that effect.
However, Dalton’s encounters with the boy, who was in high school, continued, said a military spokesperson.
In February, doctors conducting routine blood tests found that the teen was HIV positive.
“To him, it was like a death sentence,” said the boy’s mother, who said she was with her son when the doctors told them the results.
“It obviously didn’t mean anything for him (Dalton) to do it, because he knew he had it (HIV), and he willingly gave it to someone else,” said the victim’s mother, who said she keeps her identity hidden for fear of the stigma her family might suffer.
Dalton certainly broke rank when he fucked that boy, but one wonders if HIV sexual policing violates one’s constitutional rights to privacy. As 365 Gay explains, North Carolina law “prohibits a person infected with HIV from having sex unless condoms are used and requires that sexual partners be notified”. The latter part of the law makes sense – and should be enforced – but can a state really order HIV positive people to use condoms? Barebacking is intensely dangerous, but it’s also gaining more adherents. Don’t these people have the right to live recklessly?
Regardless of one’s rights, Dalton will appear in court on August 2nd for a hearing.
How about we take this to the next level?
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WWH
People who knowingly infect others with HIV should get 25 to life. Period. End of story. Unfortunately, much like a serial killer, most of these types get a sick thrill out of doing this.
Qjersey
“Don’t these people have the right to live recklessly?”
YES they do, BUT, why should these people have access to benefits for HIV positive people (HIV meds, medical care, housing, food programs) if they are going to go around infecting other people?
Its been 25 years, its time to get over giving HIV positive people a pass. HIV needs to be treated like any other “chronic” illness. For chrissakes they locked up that poor guy who they only “thought” had a virulent strain of TB!
As a matter of fact, we should END all HIV care programs (not prevention). HIV care should be absorbed into Medicare…just shutting down the the government HIV bureaucracy would save millions of dollars that could then be put into Medicare to cover more people.
cjc
This guy represents only one person, not a mass wave of HIV-infected people seeking to get others infected. While his behavior, and others like him, are reprehensible, it does no one good to paint such a broad brush on all HIV+ individuals.
Jamie
Don’t these people have the right to live recklessly?
As the saying goes, “Your rights end where the other guy’s nose begins.” Or other body parts, in this case.
It’s not only the rights of the HIV+ person at stake. The other participant has the right to full disclosure.
To use a very poor metaphor, I may choose to go bungee jumping, but if the instructor doesn’t tell me the cord is frayed, and then I get hurt, who’s at fault? Me for wanting the adventure, or him for holding back critical information?
And we don’t know if they boy asked, but he is still a minor and this jerk had an obligation to be honest.
And most HIV+ people are very responsible and careful from all indications. But they don’t get the publicity.
nycstudman
I just don’t get the whole “constitutional rights” thing. If the guy had shot the kid, he would be guilty. What he did was just as lethal, if slower. I think anyone who is HIV+ who knowingly infects someone else is committing a crime, period. It has nothing to do with stigmatizing HIV+ guys. I’m HIV- and I have sex w/HIV+ guys all the time, but I use protection.
Woof
A lot of this going around, another story out of Colorado. You have to see the picture of the guy…WOW…WHO IS HE TRICKING WITH????
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5633893,00.html
cjc
Sweet Jesus, Woof… ewww.
Mr. B
Hate to troll-bait, here, but Woof, you’re a prick.
underbear1
I have lived with HIV/AIDS for 21 years and never transmitted the disease to ANYONE. I am for full disclosure of your HIV status, and using safer sex methods, but there are TWO people engaging in sex, BOTH are responsible for a disease being transmitted. There would also need to be tests done on the young man infected to see if it is the viral strain Dalton has, there is a possibility the young man infected, had more than one HIV+ partners.
Woof
I feel the love.
EdWoody
Indeed it is both people’s responsibility to remain safe. But it’s difficult to do that when one partner doesn’t have all the facts. By which I don’t mean disclosure of HIV status, but just basic sex education and the knowledge of the dangers of HIV and how to avoid them. That is sadly very lacking in kids these days, because of a puritanical government that refuses to accept that sex happens or offer the appropriate advice before it’s too late.
nycstudman
underbear1:
the kid was 17 and lived in rural N. Carolina. it’s not he was probably getting a lot of AIDS education in school or messages about sex safe, yaknow? i don’t think you can apply the same standards as a professional gay man in chelsea to this poor kid.
Graywolf48
HIV/AIDS has been around for 25 years. Even if you live in Podunk Holler, Arkansas you must be aware of this disease. Each individual is responsible for their own health. Anyone who has sex with anyone else without using a condom is a fool.
Do you realize how many people who are regularly having unprotected sex and are HIV+ and don’t know it because they have not or will not get tested? You can be infected and infectious and in the “window period” and your test is negative but you’re still incubating the virus. In addition to which, people lie routinely in moments of passion, it’s not nice but it is human nature. You should trust no one with your life and health. If this guy knew he was HIV+ and still had unprotected sex with someone, yes, he should be incarcerated forever. He is in fact a murderer.
Qjersey, you are an idiot. HIV/AIDS is a chronic disease and is treated as such. The medications to treat HIV/AIDS are provided because the expense of such medications is prohibitively expensive for the average person. We’re talking $500 to maybe $5000 a month in treatment costs (medications, labs, etc). Many insurance companies will not cover the meds or set caps/limits. These meds keep people alive and enable them to live almost normal productive daily lives. End the Ryan White Program and let Medicare absorb the cost? Medicare is for retirees and the disabled and doesn’t cover drugs very adequately (as any senior about Part D and the donut hole). Time and space restrict my ability to explain the facts of living with HIV to you. You probably wouldn’t care to listen any way. I’ve been doing HIV/AIDS Case Management for years and it’s a tragic disease with tragic consequences for the infected as well as their friends and families. I’ve seen many horrid deaths of really fine people over the years. Your callous attitude makes me angry and sick. But, you are not alone in your feeling. Even after 25 years there is still much stigma, rejection, prejudice and hate for HIV+ people to deal with besides their affliction. Oh, and for the record I am HIV- and intend to remain so.
I just hope you are not infected (have you been tested lately?) and not in for a rude shock in the future. I also hope that none of your loved ones is ever infected. All it takes is a one time sexual encounter without a condom and its possible you could be infected. Then we’ll see if you want any one to “give you a pass” or help with your medical care. Hope you can afford your drugs without the Ryan White Program or any other “benefits”.
underbear1
nycstudman,
I agree our country’s AIDS and sex education is nearly non existance, with the fundies spreading their FAILED abstinence ONLY cr*p. But this one man isn’t unique in spreading HIV, nor is the 17-18 yo. man unique in being infected. Minority women and young gay men are sero-converting at hideous rates, when the gay men in my generation actually reduced the number of infections, with safer sex practices…even before the protease inhibitors became available.
cjc
Thank god I got my sex ed during the Clinton years.
fanboi
I know HIV isn’t the same as full AIDS and isn’t the “death sentence” it used to be considered. But I still think it should be considered attempted murder to knowingly risk infecting someone. If you know you have it and still don’t use a condom – your ass should be in jail.
nycstudman
“Even if you live in Podunk Holler, Arkansas you must be aware of this disease.” You’d be surprised what a 17-year-old closeted kid in Podunk Holler doesn’t know.