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Thursday, October 2, 2008 5:12 AM CDT
Plainfield man charged with spreading HIV virus
By Courier Staff
CEDAR FALLS — A Plainfield man was arrested this week after he allegedly exposed another person to the HIV virus.

Nick Clayton Rhoades, 34, was arrested by Cedar Falls Police Monday on a warrant for criminal transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a Class B felony. The arrest took place at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Cedar Falls police say Rhoades met an unidentified Cedar Falls male online in a chat room. On June 26, Rhoades traveled to the victim’s home, where the pair had “intimate contact,” according to court records. Later on, the victim learned from friends that Rhoades had HIV.

The virus, which develops into AIDS, often takes months or years before incubation sets in. Police did not say whether the victim was infected with the virus.

Cedar Falls police arranged for the victim to contact Rhoades again by phone on July 10, where Rhoades admitted he was HIV positive. He admitted it again during an interview with police on July 14, according to court documents. He also admitted that he didn’t tell the victim he was HIV positive during their initial contact.

Police did not release the age of the victim, who was identified as John Doe in court documents. Rhoades is being held on at the Black Hawk County Jail $150,000 bond. He faces up to 25 years in prison, if convicted as charged.
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berrr wrote on Oct 2, 2008 10:39 AM:

" It should be life, not 25. "

(return of) joe wrote on Oct 2, 2008 1:09 PM:

" Translation of berrr's statement: "I hate gay people. Lock him up for life for being gay, but use this as a reason to be able to do it." "

iceman wrote on Oct 2, 2008 1:42 PM:

" This should be considered murder or attempted murder. This incident may ultimately result in this poor mans death. "

myvoicematterstome wrote on Oct 2, 2008 2:29 PM:

" ummm joe............berrr DID NOT say anything about hating gay people. You just read that in to what this person wrote. If you're gay you're gay. Thats your life, nobody cares one way or the other. You do have to love though how people try to run this hate thing ALL THE TIME!! "

css wrote on Oct 2, 2008 2:57 PM:

" I agree... this man should get life for what he has done.

Joe... it has nothing to do about "hating gays", it has more to do with what he did. He possibly infected another person with a possible death sentence. Or worse, a life long battle to suppress it. "

purplecat wrote on Oct 2, 2008 3:02 PM:

" wow, where does (return of)joe get off assuming the Berrr hates gay people?? I don't hate gay people, but I agree that someone who intentionally exposes another person to a potentially deadly disease deserves life in prison. It has nothing to do with the fact that he's gay. "

KRIS wrote on Oct 2, 2008 3:07 PM:

" That was also my thought myvoicematterstome......no different if he purposed tried to kill him any other way. He knew he had it, he knowingly passed it, he needs face the consequences. "

WC wrote on Oct 2, 2008 3:58 PM:

" How dare any one of you from making those comments. None of you have no idea on whats going on with this case. "

(return of) joe wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:14 PM:

" I just can't help but find it odd that, time and time again, the stories that get the most hateful responses on here-aside from Postville stories-are ones dealing with gays. Sorry, but I'll stick by what I said. "

Two Cents wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:59 PM:

" (return of)joe. Wouldn't it make more sense to say he hated gays if he thought that the offender should go free instead of spend his life in prison? I mean for a true gay hater wouldn't it be better to let him be free to spread HIV?

I can say that when I read berrr's comment I had to agree with him and I don't hate gays. I think it is a shame that your mind took you to that place. I guess deep down I feel sorry for you and the troubles you must have. "

DaddyTJ wrote on Oct 2, 2008 8:23 PM:

" WC, we can't comprehend what you just said either...double negatives and all.

Anyway, personally, yes, this guy did wrong for not telling the other guy he was HIV positive...but God works in mysterious ways and maybe this was his "punishment" for having unprotected "intimate encounters" with another man.

protection=less chances of getting HIV/AIDS.

Don't take that as anti-gay either. I'm not anti-gay...I'm homophobic and pro-heterosexual. If you're gay, you're gay, but by all means, if you're two guys going at it, use protection... "

50674 wrote on Oct 2, 2008 10:34 PM:

" With an HIV positive person 25 years will likely BE life. ANY person, regardless of sexual orientation, takes the risk with unprotected sex. In this day and age there is no reason to NOT use protection .... that is what it for. "

kris wrote on Oct 2, 2008 10:59 PM:

" WC and how would you feel if someone knowingly passed that on to you, doubt you would say that. How about if your child comes to you and tells you that someone infected them with the virus. I stand by what I say. ... We dont have any idea of what went on? Yeah it is just as much the other persons fault for having unprotected sex. That doesnt mean that person deserves to die for that mistake. Welcome to the 21st century, people have unprotected sex all the time. It would be a totally different story, but the guy went in loaded. "

berrr wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:42 AM:

" JOE: Whoa!!!!!! Actually, that is NOT what I meant at all!! GET A LIFE!!! "

ozymandias wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:53 AM:

" (return of) joe,

I agree with berrr, and would continue to agree with them had it been Jane Doe and not John Doe. Intentionally spreading HIV is despicable, and is currently no better than slowly torturing someone to death.

The poor victim now, without significant medical advances, never lead a normal life. The victim will have to have extensive medical treatment for the rest of their lives, and are unlikely to be able to have any (more) children. Odds are they will not be able to be physically intimate with their loved ones. They have the social stigma of people like you (meaning (return of) joe) correlating HIV with homosexuality. They will face shame and treatment as an 'unclean' person by many uninformed people.

The victim Jane or John, faces a horrible consequence for this "

hopeful wrote on Oct 3, 2008 11:46 AM:

" Individuals who test positive for HIV are clearly explained the Law regarding Criminal Transmission. They are fully aware that they need to disclose status to all sexual partners and needle sharing partners and are not allowed to donate blood or other organs. Even if transmission does not occurs, it is still a violation of the law.... exposure, not transmission is the determining action. We have several cases a year rearding this law here in Iowa and many involve heteroseual sex. This individual had to be fully aware of his actions and recklessly took chances with spreading the virus. His sexual identity is not the issue, his recklessness is. Many people who find out they are infected with HIV are responsible and do not recklessly expose others to the virus upon knowing they are infected.... The people who have charges brought against them are reckless, a danger to society and should be charged accordingly. "

tecilop wrote on Oct 3, 2008 1:40 PM:

" They get what they deserve. "

Stana wrote on Oct 4, 2008 3:50 PM:

" I don'tfeel too bad for the victum here to be honest. He met a person online to meet up for sex and then doesn't use protection. It was waiting to happen for this person. This goes for gay or straight people who do these dangerous things. Need to take responsibility for your own actions. 3 out of every 4 men in American have had or have a STD "

shirley wrote on Oct 4, 2008 8:45 PM:

" Joe you should really take a chill pill. He said nothing to indicate whether he likes or hates gays. for all u know he could be gay. he states that he does not like the fact of knowingly infecting somebody. I am sure that you know as well as the rest of us on here that if this person does get infected his life will end sooner than if not infected. I would think that if it were you in the victims situation u would want the same result right? I know I would. "

Duh! wrote on Oct 7, 2008 4:59 PM:

" Gee Joe, sounds like you might have issues with sexual orientation. Although some of the comments on here are rather hateful, not just to gays, but also to the victim. Just because the victim did not use protection does not make him or her deserving of this sort of infection. He should have informed his sexual partner of his HIV infection, no matter who the partner was. I have no sympathy other than for the victim. A life sentence would have been better, but 25 years could be a death sentence with his infection, unless he gets early parole, and for your information I am not homophobic. I feel the sentence fits the crime. "

ozymandias wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:48 PM:

" Stana,

Where in the article does it state protection was not used? "

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