An individual from Idaho has been handed a 30-year prison sentence for attempting to transmit HIV to numerous victims.
Alexander Louie, aged 34, confessed to engaging in sexual activities with 30 to 50 different men and boys, one of whom was a 16-year-old. He deliberately withheld his HIV positive status from his partners with the intention of infecting them, as per a news release by the Ada County Prosecutor's office.
Authorities initiated an investigation into Louie in August 2023 after an undercover detective engaged him in online conversations. Louie believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old boy. Following online interactions, the two individuals arranged to meet in person in Boise, Louie's place of residence. Louie shared explicit images with the "teen boy" via online chats and expressed his intent to record their encounter, according to officials.
Upon Louie's arrival at the agreed location, law enforcement apprehended him in September 2023 on charges of child enticement. He was subsequently formally charged in November 2023.
Authorities revealed that during their investigation, they uncovered that Louie had not been taking his HIV medication. Shockingly, he admitted to deceiving potential partners about his HIV status and intentionally engaging in "sexual contact with both men and teenage boys in hopes to transfer HIV to them."
Reports from the Idaho Statesman state that as part of a plea agreement, Louie pleaded guilty to charges including sexual battery of a minor, enticing a child via the internet, and transferring bodily fluids.
During his sentencing on May 3, Ada County District Judge Derrick O'Neill condemned Louie's actions, stating that his behavior epitomized the definition of a predator, as per the prosecutor's office.
Louie was handed a 30-year prison sentence by O'Neill, with the possibility of parole after 16 years, according to the prosecutor's office.
Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts expressed, "This individual's repeated and severe offenses had a detrimental impact on numerous individuals in our community. I extend my gratitude to the Ada County Sheriff's Detective and my trial team for their dedication in ensuring Mr. Louie faced consequences for his predatory and hazardous behavior."
