June 11, 2012

Texas HIV-Negative Man Gets 10 Years for Spitting at Police

An HIV-negative man from Lufkin, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for spitting on police officers and allegedly claiming to have HIV during his arrest for public intoxication, KTRE.com reports. John Oliphant, 34, tested negative for HIV the day after his July 2011 arrest. According to the arrest affidavit, Oliphant spit at two police officers. Oliphant denies that story. He claims that the arresting officers pulled him out of the police car while he was handcuffed and that he fell and hurt his elbow and head, which left blood on the restraint chair. Oliphant said he told the police, That’s how you catch AIDS, and they assumed that he said he had AIDS. Oliphant pleaded guilty in January and faced prison time ranging from two to 20 years.

To read the KTRE.com article, click here.

Search: Lufkin, Texas, John Oliphant, police officers, blood, spit

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Previous Comments:

Connie, , 2012-06-12 18:48:06
Really?!!! If I say I have a knife in my hand (but I don't) and make a stabbing motion at a cop will I get 10 years? this is such BS.

kathleen, houston, 2012-06-12 17:06:33
For goodness sake the man was innocent of having HIV so he should have been sentenced wit public intoxication nothing more.The laws in America are getting out of control concerning people with HIV.I was a healthcare worker now I am a murder how cruel is that!We might as well be gathered up & put in conceration camps!