A jury believed that Daniel James Rick, a 30-year-old Minneapolis man, informed his partner that he was HIV positive before the two had sex, but nonetheless they found him guilty of transmitting HIV, convicting him of attempted first-degree assault, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. They based their decision on a statute that criminalizes the “transfer of blood, sperm, organs or tissue, except as deemed necessary for medical research or if disclosed on donor screening forms.” Because Rick didn’t use a condom, the jury said, it didn’t matter whether he disclosed his status beforehand. Rick’s attorney, Landon Ascheman, argued that the clause on which Rick was found guilty is meant to apply to medical procedures rather than sexual transmission, and says he intends to appeal.

To read the Star Tribune article, click here.