Prison term upheld for man who kept silent about HIV status

An appeals court has upheld a 15-year prison sentence given to a man who exposed several women to the virus that causes AIDS.

Albert Spicer III was charged in Jackson County with 25 counts of recklessly exposing another person to HIV infection. Spicer was diagnosed with HIV in 1992. He had sex with as many as seven women between 2002 and 2004 without informing them of his status. One of the women later tested positive for the virus.

Spicer, 43, pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts in 2006. His sentencing report recommended prison terms ranging from six years to 10 years. Judge Jay A. Daugherty imposed the 15-year sentence requested by the prosecutor’s office.

Spicer appealed, arguing that the sentence violated his right to due process.