HIV-positive teen accused of assault

A Spokane Valley teenager with HIV was arrested on assault charges Tuesday, accused of having unprotected sex with two girls. Edward I. Casto, 19, told his 15-year-old girlfriend he had HIV when their relationship began in May but didn’t use a condom when he had sex with her and didn’t tell her friend, also a minor, that he was infected. The friend had unprotected sex with Casto at his apartment at 12710 E. Shannon. Police seized computers, an iPhone and other electronics Tuesday after learning Casto may have filmed the sexual encounters. Casto’s girlfriend told police she knew he had HIV but didn’t tell her friend, according to a probable cause affidavit supporting two counts of first-degree assault in Casto. He was ordered to stay in jail on $100,000 bail after appearing in Spokane County Superior Court Wednesday. Police believe other girls may have had sex with Casto without knowing he has HIV. Possible victims are asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233. Casto has known since he was 13 that he’s had HIV since birth, police said. His arrest comes less than a week after another Spokane Valley man, Zuriel E. Roush, 23, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for lying to his sex partner about his HIV status. His lawyer said he could be released in about five years.