Canadian man faces at least 20 charges of spreading HIV

DETROIT – With more of his alleged former sex partners coming forward out of fear, the number of charges against a Windsor, Ontario, businessman accused of spreading HIV to unsuspecting women hit 20 on Tuesday.

Carl Leone, 28, was charged in Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor with 18 counts of aggravated sexual assault for not telling sex partners he is HIV positive. Last week, Leone was charged with two counts of aggravated assault; those charges were upgraded to aggravated sexual assault. The penalty for an aggravated sexual assault conviction is life in prison.

“That’s life times 20,” said Staff Sgt. Neal Jessop, who is leading the investigation for the Windsor police.

He said he won’t be surprised if more charges against Leone are filed.

Leone met women on the Internet. He traveled throughout Canada in addition to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Europe. Police said he was a frequent visitor to the Detroit area.

Since June 8, 95 people have contacted Windsor-Essex County authorities for HIV testing. The human immunodeficiency virus is the virus that leads to AIDS. Dr. G. Allen Heimann, medical officer of health for Windsor-Essex County, said he does not know how many of the alleged victims are HIV positive.

The 20 women represented in the counts against Leone range in age from 17 to their mid-20s. All are from the Windsor area, although one of the women lived in suburban Detroit before moving to Windsor as Leone’s live-in girlfriend. She has relocated to Texas and says she is HIV positive.

On Monday, lawyers will request a date for a bond hearing.

Leone remains in jail in Windsor, segregated from the jail population.