May 25, 2010 | Health Matters

17-year-old infected with HIV, charges laid

Earlier this month, charges were laid after an Ottawa, Canada man alleged he contracted HIV from Steven Paul Boone. Boone was subsequently charged with aggravated sexual assault. The 17-year-old accuser claimed he repeatedly asked Boone if he was negative for any diseases. Boone lied and said he was HIV-negative. The two then engaged in unsafe sex, on several occasions.

After charges were laid, police chose to release Boone's picture to the media to warn previous sex partners to get tested.

In 2008, a Windsor, Ont., man was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of aggravated assault for knowingly exposing 15 women to HIV, including five who became HIV-positive.

That HIV-infection is being looked on as a criminal act is causing a heated debate. A commenter on Queerty argued: "If you choose to have sex with a stranger and NOT INSIST on a condom—you have no one else but your self to blame. If you won't look after yourself, don't expect others too."

But is Boone then absolved of any culpability? He did know he was HIV positive. He did know that fucking someone without a condom would put his partner at serious risk.

Further confusing the matter is an alleged hook-up ad Boone placed online under the nickname BarebackRocker. The ad reveals his HIV status and invites HIV-negative men "to the front of the line." 

While this case is an extreme example, it goes to show the risk when any negative guy decides, for whatever reason, that it's okay to bareback, just this time.

A Criminal HIV Transmission [The Stranger]