The Gaylord Police Department says an Otsego County woman is a prostitute who has HIV and she had sex with several partners without telling them about her virus.
Gaylord Police say it started with one victim, but their investigation of Angelina Mendoza led to a bigger case involving several partners and soliciting herself online.
Gaylord Police say this was all happening within the City of Gaylord.
9 & 10’s Blayke Roznowski and photojournalist Erin Malone have more details on the severity of these crimes when it can impact public health.
The Gaylord Police Department was investigating an unrelated crime when they realized that Angelina Mendoza was soliciting sex with partners without telling them that she had HIV.
"It’s called uniformed partner," Otsego County prosecutor Michael Rola said. "A person who is either HIV positive and/or tests positive for the AIDS virus cannot do that with another person unless they knowingly previously advise them of that circumstance."
Rola says this is a serious crime that can have an impact on many people.
"It not only happens to the person you’re with, but then that partner’s partner’s partner’s etc., so it creates a significant health risk, which is why, under the health code, once a person is tested positive and they find out that other person could be possibly infected, they’re under the obligation to disclose that information," Rola said. "That way those persons can be contacted and tested and get whatever appropriate treatment is necessary."
Investigators say its vital that anyone who believes they may have been an alleged victim comes forward.
"Very often sometimes the victims, and they are victims, are not wanting to come forward for a whole bunch of different reasons," Rola said. "Their privacy of course. "In light of the health risks that are imposed by the circumstances and to protect the health of the public, if you will, that’s something that just has to be done."
Mendoza is currently lodged in the Huron Correctional Facility on unrelated charges.
She’ll be back in court next week.
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