A former college wrestler is going away for a very long time because he knowingly exposing multiple men he had sex with to HIV.
Michael L. Johnson, 23 — a former wrestler at St. Louis’ Lindenwood University received the 30-year prison sentence for “recklessly infecting one sex partner with HIV and risking the infection of four others,” according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Jurors in May had found Michael L. Johnson, 23, guilty of five felony charges after testimony that included experts in infectious diseases and the men who had unprotected sex with him. One of the men contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
St. Charles County Circuit Judge Jon Cunningham, who issued the sentence, told Johnson he had committed “very severe” crimes. Prosecutors said he didn’t tell the partners he had HIV.
“The main thing is the profound effect your actions have had on the victims and their families,” the judge said.
During testimony, one victim told jurors that Johnson would continue his reckless behavior if not sent to prison. Johnson was once a state wrestling champion in Indiana.