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[fedupdon]

HIV-Positive Man Sentenced 35 Years for Spitting at Officer

Last Edited: Thursday, 15 May 2008, 10:13 AM CDT
Created: Thursday, 15 May 2008, 6:30 AM CDT

Willie Campbell who is HIV positive was sentenced to 35 years in jail after sptting into the eyes and mouth of a Dallas police officer. SideBar


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DALLAS -- An HIV-positive man convicted of spitting into the eye and open mouth of a Dallas police officer has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Because a jury found that Willie Campbell used his saliva as a deadly weapon, the 42-year-old will have to serve half his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was sentenced Wednesday.

Campbell was being arrested in May 2006 for public intoxication when he began resisting and kicking inside the patrol car, Dallas police office Dan Waller testified.

"He turns and spits," Waller said. "He hits me in the eye and mouth. Then he told me he has AIDS. I immediately began looking for something to flush my eyes with."

Campbell, who was convicted of harassment of a public servant, has a history of spitting at police officers and biting fellow jail inmates, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Dallas County prosecutor Aja Reed said Campbell began yelling in court when another officer testified Campbell spit on him during an unrelated incident.

"He said to the officer, 'You're a liar. You're all railroading me. I'm an innocent man,'" Reed said.

[Rich Z]

Interesting slant on "biological warfare"..... Might make an impact in the design of new prisons since certainly prison guards will be at risk of similar attacks.

[Kpdpipes]

Not a new thing we've had something similar on the books for a while now. ANY Biological material is considered an assault (and that's on ANYONE not just Police), if the Spitter/thrower KNOWINGLY does it with the knowledge he has a communicable disease (HIV, Hep, even TB) then it becomes Aggravated Assault.

[Jorge_Banner]

It already has, modern prisons have special cells for prisoners with the habit of hurling “biological” projectiles at the guards that have hard clear plastic that impedes the practice.

[cutter]

I agree with the man's sentance and the government's stand in this case; but I do have some reservations about such laws in general. I fear that some unforseen consequences could result. If an anti- spitting law is on the books, then some overzealous kindergarten teacher could end up getting a 5 year old put in jail for spitting at or on a classmate. Face it, kids are kids and this does happen from time to time. An officer in this situation would have little choice but to arrest this child.

[T. Daves]

Not a new thing we've had something similar on the books for a while now. ANY Biological material is considered an assault (and that's on ANYONE not just Police), if the Spitter/thrower KNOWINGLY does it with the knowledge he has a communicable disease (HIV, Hep, even TB) then it becomes Aggravated Assault.

And I would meet force with force and sign his death warrant.

[Rich Z]

This has some bizarre implications. You can easily foresee the act of ANY fliud exchange between persons becoming a criminal act unless both parties explicitly agree (in writing) to the exchange and are permitted to do so by some government agency....... :nuts:

[gripper]

When I was locked up,it was NOT unusual for some of th emore "energetic" sorts to "stock up " on whatever bodily waste products they could put together-and then let it fly at whatever deputies ( this was county) got too close to the A block administrative seg cages.
There is a reason that First Aid ?First Response trainingrefers to "universal precautions" in ANY dealings with open wounds/bodily fluids and /or openings.Between Hep C (a LOT more dangerouds outside the body than HIV) and all the other rewlated nasties (TB anyone??) you DON'T want to ever get "slimed". Prophylacruc anti-viral regimens are one of the first steps they take with exposure (just like needle sticks ,or second thoughts the morning after a casual sexual encounter). Nothing to laugh about,because not everyone responds to HAART therapy the same way-some folks get almost chemo-like symptoms for the duration of the cycle. But it IS possible to render emergency prophylaxis;jus as it IS possible to prevent mother to infant transmission with pre and post natal treatment. No actual cure once you are actually infected ,but there IS hope for what was once a death sentence.
And before we get into all the jokes about this stuff;I have had some people I cared about who are/were NOT in any of th eusual risk categories who either died from it ,or are living with it ;to the best of their ability. Serious stuff folks.
BTW,as far as I am concerned ; ANYONE who does what this guy did (spitting,deliberately exposing others)deserves everything they do back to him and more.

[gripper]

Once again, gremlins have infiltrated my keyboard.....sorry for the typos:shrugs:

[Jorge_Banner]

This has some bizarre implications. You can easily foresee the act of ANY fliud exchange between persons becoming a criminal act unless both parties explicitly agree (in writing) to the exchange and are permitted to do so by some government agency....... :nuts:

Written agreement before a kiss? That'll put a dent on romanticism . . .
So this written agreement, does it have to be signed for each one or can it have kind a number of boxes to cross out along the way . . . ? Like you sign for ten and then see what happens.

:laugh01:

I wanna go back to the way things used to be before WWII (not that I was alive then).