Hiv-Positive Man Faces Assault Charge Man With Aids Virus Accused Of Not Telling Status

A man infected with the AIDS virus is charged with second-degree assault for having unprotected sex with a Spokane woman, court records state.

Larry D. Mullins had sex with the woman twice in May without telling her he was sick, police Detective George Benavidez wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.

The woman went to police a month later when she learned from a mutual acquaintance that Mullins was HIV-positive, the affidavit states. Initial tests indicate she did not contract the virus.

Prosecutor Mary Ann Brady swore out a warrant for Mullins’ arrest in August. Nevada state troopers arrested him last month after stopping him for a traffic infraction near Las Vegas.

He was held in jail there until Friday, when he was extradited to Spokane and booked into jail on the assault charge. Mullins posted $20,000 bond and was released later that day. A trial date has not been set.

The woman, whose age was not reported by detectives, told police she met Mullins at Spokane’s Little Big Foot Tavern the night of May 17. She said she drank with Mullins and a friend.

The 32-year-old Mullins then walked the woman home, and the two had consensual, unprotected sex, the affidavit states.

The woman told detectives that before sleeping with Mullins she asked him if he had any diseases. “The defendant stated that he had none,” according to court records. The said she and Mullins had unprotected sex again the next day. The relationship ended shortly thereafter.

Several weeks later, Mullins’ friend told the woman that Mullins has the AIDS virus, the affidavit states.

Mullins could not be reached for comment Monday.

It is the second time in 20 months that he has faced a felony charge related to his disease, according to Superior Court records.

In February 1996, he was charged with attempted second-degree assault after two sheriff’s deputies said he threatened to infect them with AIDS, then spat at them and tried to bite them. The incident occurred when the deputies were dispatched to Mullins’ house on a domestic violence call.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and served about six months in jail. He was released in April.

While in jail, Mullins wrote a letter to Judge Ken Kato asking to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest because of “health issues and concerns.” He also told Kato he had found religion and deserved a break.

“I have changed,” Mullins wrote. “While on house arrest, I will pledge to you and my Lord and God I will not let anything mess me up.”

Kato denied the request.

, DataTimes