Dallas Native Positive for HIV Claims He Had 300 Sex Partners
36-year old former Dallasite, David Mangum, claims he has had over 300 sex partners - around 240 while he was in Dallas and 60 in Missouri.
Mangum tested positive for HIV in 2003. He initially stayed in Dallas but has moved to Missouri. His Missouri roommate, whom he had sex with, reported him to the police after finding out he also tested positive for HIV, reports the Huffington Post.
According to Mangum, he did not disclose his being HIV positive for fear of rejection. Report says that although he was jailed on a $250,000 cash only bond, he was not apologetic. He is scheduled for a hearing on September 26.
Missouri has one of the toughest laws when it comes to HIV transmission. It is one of the only 37 states in the country which considers knowingly transmitting the HIV virus a crime, Huff Post reports. If the other person tests positive for HIV, the criminal will face a steep penalty of life-time imprisonment. 15 years of imprisonment await criminals with victims exposed to the virus.
Mangum says he usually hooks up with men through Craiglist ads. They would then meet up in parks, truck stops and other remote locations for mostly unprotected sex. Mangum has faced several charges and convictions during his stay in Dallas including indecent exposure, prostitution and public lewdness.
A major challenge for the police departments in Dallas and Missouri is tracking down Mangum's victims. Mangum reportedly had little to no information about the 300 sex partners he has had apart from their first names.
Clinics in Studdard County, Missouri are reporting a heightened number of walk-ins for HIV testing. From the regular 1 to 2 people who get tested every week, the number has surged to 15 the past week.
People in Dallas who think they might have been exposed or contracted HIV through David Mangum and are considering filing criminal charges are requested to contact the DPD Crimes Against Persons Assault Unit, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 214-671-3584, says the Dallas Voice. Dallas County Health and Human Services also advises anyone who has had unprotected sex with Mangum to contact the DCHHS HIV Surveillance Division at 214-819-2155.