HIV-positive man
gets life in prison for infecting others

An HIV-positive Missouri man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for knowingly exposing a woman to the virus. Sean Sykes, 33, had previously served five years of a 10-year sentence for exposing others to the virus, Newsday reports.

Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins said that Sykes has had several other unknown sexual contacts since he tested positive 16 years ago. "I think it's fairly clear he is a very dangerous individual," Scroggins said. according to Newsday. "If he is not in prison, he would likely continue to spread HIV."

The woman who contracted HIV from Sykes testified at his sentencing hearing that the virus ruined her life. She said that she has two years to live, and her family has abandoned her out of fear.

"When I found out that Sean was on trial again for this, it drove me crazy," she said. "The main question is why? Why is he doing this?" (The Advocate)