Positive Woman Gets 3 Years in Prison for Spitting
An HIV-positive Georgia woman was charged with aggravated assault and sentenced to three years in prison for spitting on another woman, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports (ledger-enquirer.com, 7/23).
According to the article, the incident occurred October 3, 2007, when HIV-positive Audrey D. Lewis, 43, got into an argument with a 24-year-old woman. Police said that Lewis then spit in the woman’s face and exclaimed, “I hope you get AIDS b—.”
Lewis had three prior felonies and must serve out her full sentence. She will not be eligible for parole.
An HIV-positive Dallas man in May was arrested and sentenced to 35 years in prison for spitting in the face of a police officer. There has never been a documented case of HIV being transmitted through saliva.
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Previous Comments:
comments 1 - 3 (of 3 total)
Kevin M., Houston, 2008-07-31 06:14:47
Forget 3 years, what about 35?!? And how were these people even convicted? Wouldn't a fair trial include some kind of expert testimony?
Elizabeth L, Brooklyn, NY, 2008-07-30 21:00:32
Once again, excessive criminalization and alienation to those living with HIV. We really have a long way to go. Appalling and tragic.
Bill P, , 2008-07-30 16:50:23
3 yrs is excessive even for a felon. We are back to the "witch burning" days because of the ignorance of how HIV is transmitted.
I hope both cases appeal. This is nothing more than a technical "battery" charge which is not a felony.
When will it stop??? Who or what will be targeted next??
Even God would be appalled at humankind's ignorant and intolerant behavior of those who of God's children are different!!!
Shame on the Justice System!!!
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I think that it's OK to be angry. I am sometimes—it's natural—we are HIV positive. but I always try to not let myself stay there too long. Let yourself feel you are human. You should not beat yourself up about being angry."
