An Idaho man was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison last week for deliberately trying to spread HIV through sexual contact, according to prosecutors.
Investigators found that Alexander Louie, 34, who is HIV positive, was not taking medication and that he "purposely having sexual contact with both men and teenage boys in hopes to transfer HIV to them," the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release.
"He lied to these victims about his HIV status. Through the defendant’s own admissions, he had sexual intercourse with 30-50 different men and boys, including a 16-year-old," the prosecutor's office said.
The investigation started in August as a child enticement case after Louie began "an online sexual conversation" with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old boy, but it was actually an undercover detective. Louie was arrested after he tried to meet up with the person he believed was a 15-year-old boy for sex, authorities said.
The investigation led to Louie’s pleading guilty to a felony charge of transferring bodily fluids containing the HIV virus. He was also found guilty of felony sexual battery with a minor and child enticement, according to court records.
Louie was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison, at least 16 years of which he has to serve before he is eligible for parole, the prosecutor's office said.
An attorney for Louie did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
