Man exposes more than 100 partners, many potentially minors, to HIV

by PegNews wire

Willie Atkins was convicted of trying to get a 15-year-old boy to engage in sexual acts with him. During his proceedings, it was discovered that Atkins had a hidden camera videotape 131 sexual encounters, most of which did not include any kind of protection. In 1991, however, Atkins was diagnosed with HIV. There is reportedly no evidence that Atkins told any of his partners about this piece of his medical history. Police also report that while the video images are too grainy to hold up in further convictions, they believe that many of the young men taped were minors.

Atkins could face life in prison, because his enticement charge that led to the discovery of the videotape and his medical history (which were used for the punishment part of the proceedings) is his third felony charge.

Posted by Erin

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Chad Jones, says:

Once again, I'll defer to the second sentence of <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/jan/11/thieves-preying-meals-wheels-tarrant-county/">this post</a>.

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2 years, 7 months ago
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Sanders Kaufman, says:

This one's just bad journalism, guys.

The word "purposefully" in the title promises me that you'll tell me how infecting people was his outright purpose. But the two-paragraph article doesn't fulfill that promise.

If there was just a scintilla of evidence of that, then the headline would be legit. But at best, all you can draw from the article is that he did it carelessly.

Sensational journalism is cool and all - but it absolutely, positively must be 100% substantiated.

I mean, you don't want to be just another Dallas Morning News - do you?

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2 years, 7 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Sanders, while I don't think it's quite as far off as you say, I agree the headline could be better and we've updated the story.

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2 years, 7 months ago
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Sanders Kaufman, says:

It was the comparison to DMN that did it, wasn't it? ;)

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2 years, 7 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

No, Sanders. I agreed with you independently. BUT, I was thinking of pointing out that the local daily certainly *wouldn't* listen to "citizen editors" and make transparent changes realtime as a result of input.

I didn't because I have an on-again, off-again resolution not throw rocks at Young Street. It's rare that I can help myself...