Man gets prison for HIV exposures

Prosecutors revealed Thursday there may be a third woman in the Coeur d’Alene area who was exposed to the virus that causes AIDS by having sex with Mark Arnold Crawford.

Crawford, 38, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for exposing two Kootenai County women to HIV. He will have to serve at least three years before he is eligible for parole, unless the judge reconsiders after 180 days.

During the sentencing hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Marty Raap said Crawford told a pre-sentence investigator that he had a one-time sexual encounter with a woman named Tiffany. Crawford, who has been living in Pierce County, Wash., said the woman was about 24 or 25 years old when he had sex with her.

Raap said he hopes that woman – and anyone else who may have had sex with Crawford – contacts authorities.

So far, neither of the victims who came forward have tested positive for HIV. One, a mother of three, testified Thursday she had three sexual encounters with Crawford before learning he was HIV positive.

“It was by the grace of God I found out,” she said.

The woman said she went to Crawford’s home and recognized a picture of his children on the mantel. Crawford’s daughter, she realized, was dating her son, and the woman said she recalled the girl talking about her father, who was HIV positive.

Though it has been about two years since she was exposed and tested negative for HIV, the woman said she lives in fear she someday could test positive.

“What you have done to my family has done nothing less than destroy and put my children in an everyday fear that I might die,” she said. “I live with it every day. It doesn’t go away.”

She contacted authorities, and Crawford was charged with exposing her to fluids containing the virus that causes AIDS, a felony. The day of sentencing in that case, a second victim came forward. Prosecutors dismissed the case and filed a new one with an additional victim and additional charge against Crawford. He pleaded guilty.

Sandra Larkin, a social worker from Puyallup, Wash., said she has known Crawford for a year and a half. She said he was “broke emotionally” and “his heart was tortured” when he came into a health care clinic there seeking help.

Larkin said she encouraged him to get treatment for his addiction to alcohol and drugs and for depression. She said he’s been clean and sober for more than a year and talks to groups about the mistakes he has made.

“I’m not forgiving the things he has done,” she said. “I just feel he’s a productive part of society.”

Deputy Public Defender Dennis Reuter said Crawford understood the victims’ pain.

“I’m sure Mr. Crawford is aware of that himself, because Mr. Crawford went through it himself,” Reuter said.

He asked 1st District Judge John P. Luster to allow Crawford to serve time in a work release program in Pierce County, where he lives, so he could keep his job.

Raap said Crawford’s conduct was “the height of reckless and selfish behavior.”

As they’ve looked into the case, Raap said they’ve learned a lot that makes them concerned about the possibility of additional victims. He referred to the woman Crawford mentioned as another partner and to a lewd conduct conviction Crawford had in Spokane for having sex with another man in Riverfront Park.

“The pool of potential victims appears to be any adult willing to have sex with him,” Raap said. He said he was concerned about potential victims in Western Washington, where Crawford has been living, who may not have seen media coverage of the Kootenai County case.

The only good news, Raap said, was that neither victim here has tested positive for HIV.

Crawford cried at times during the sentencing hearing and told Luster he was ashamed of his behavior. He apologized to his victims.

After finding out he had HIV, Crawford said he went through a rough spell.

“My ex left me because of it,” he said. “I went off the deep end. I’m very remorseful.”

Luster said he couldn’t imagine the type of “horror and trauma” the victims went through.

“You of all people should know and appreciate the fear this should strike in someone,” Luster said.

He said he didn’t typically allow press cameras in the courtroom, but he felt the case warranted exposure.

On May 26, an HIV-positive Moscow man was sentenced to 44 years in prison for having unprotected sex with several women. Eleven women testified that Kanay Mubita had sex with them and didn’t disclose he had HIV.

Moscow police released Mubita’s photo to the news media after the first victim came forward in December. Other women recognized his picture and also went to police.

Luster said he felt prison was important in Crawford’s case to show people who are HIV positive that they need to inform their partners.

Though Luster sentenced Crawford to 10 years, the judge retained jurisdiction. After 180 days in prison, Crawford will return to court and the judge will reassess the sentence and could grant him probation.