May 15, 2008

HIV-Positive Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Spitting

An HIV-positive man was sentenced to 35 years in prison on May 14 for spitting in the eye and mouth of a Dallas police officer in 2006, The Dallas Morning News reports (dallasnews.com, 5/15).  

While being arrested for public intoxication, 42-year-old Willie Campbell resisted, spitting in the face of Officer Dan Waller. Campbell then told the arresting officer that he was HIV positive. A second police officer claimed that Campbell had spit at him in an unrelated incident.

The jury deemed Campbell’s saliva a deadly weapon and mandated that he serve half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Editors’ note: There has never been a documented case of HIV being transmitted by an HIV-positive person spitting on another person. For more information on how HIV is—and is not—transmitted, click here.

For an update on this story, click here.

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Previous Comments:

Todd, NYC, 2009-04-26 10:03:19
I had something like that happen to me 10 years ago. In fact thats how I found out I was positive. I think ignorant people like some of these local pigs and judges should be educated or shot. If this still goes on now I have to say I would encourage people not to get tested.

Todd, Redwood City, CA, 2008-07-08 18:47:41
It's BS to claim that after 25 years and billions of dollars of research, we don't know how HIV is transmitted. If you really beleive that, you should be the first to question the veracity of the HIV/AIDS hypothesis altogether. The argument that the guys "intent" was to do hard - nice to know that if you "attack" a law officer in TX with a feather, you can be put way for 35 years, too. This conviction is BS, and the HIV/AIDS hyposthesis itslef is to blame for this conviction.

Paolo Preston, Tucson, 2008-06-17 11:57:43
It is unbelieveable that the court could make such a ruling without sufficent evidence to support their claim that someone was in harms way. The "intent" argument doesn't hold water either. It is just another example where ignorance suceeds over science. When will we ever learn.

Torres, Georgia, 2008-06-14 11:00:09
Even people who are HIV+ are not sure, including myself, or do not know 100% which way the virus can be trasmitted to another person. Lets stop judging and pointing fingers lets all help each other understand this whole mess of the HIV virus.

Jason, New York, 2008-06-13 20:00:35
People thinking like this are only gonna drive HIV testing underground. No ones gonna get tested anymore after this stupidity. Good times folks, good times.

Daniel, Coventry, UK, 2008-06-09 12:43:36
I'm astonished... how did a great nation like America get to this???

LakeWood, , 2008-06-03 17:28:08
This is for Notanidiot IF THE SHOE FITS!!!???

Ann, South, 2008-06-03 15:05:57
I am sorry folks but Texas is not the only state to have convected some one for that. That man drunk or not knew what he was doing and it ws on purpose. What was his priors? How many times has he been in before. Saliva or no saliva he did it to himself.

Lee, NY, 2008-06-02 18:58:41
HIV is NOT transmitted by saliva - so how on earth can this be assault with a deadly weapon? Mind boggling.

Rick Meriwether, Birmingham, AL, 2008-06-02 12:50:32
I think it's the fact that Mr. Campbell intent was to try and inflict bodily harm ("assault") to the two officers that a judge found him guilty of an offense. I do think that a sentence of 35 years is way out of line with the crime and I can only hope that someone appeals the sentence. Mr. Campbell should be held accountable for his actions, but the sentence imposed by the court is ridiculous (based on what has been made known to the public). Education is a never-ending process.

Notanidiot, TEXAS, 2008-05-30 16:13:36
I cannot get over all the people yelling about the need for education and then showing their own ignorance by lumping all Texans in the same category as Bush. Shows that YOU have a need for education - I don't say all Californian's are treehugging hippies. All Texans certainly are not idiots and war mongers. Get real.

Notanidiot, TEXAS, 2008-05-30 16:09:07
Oh and Annette in Lakewood, maybe you need to educate yourself on the precept of the Democratic Party's principles that all people deserve to be treated with respect, whatever their race, creed, or stature. If your think your political views give you a claim to moral superiority, you undercut it every time you ridicule Texans based on the President. Texas is a really big place, we didn't all have a hand in raising the man, why should we be blamed for it? Nice attitude you've got there.

KeQuana Shaheed, Raleigh,NC, 2008-05-29 14:39:45
THIS IS SOME BULL!!! EDUCATION PLEASE!! PLEASE EDUCATE!!!

Annette, Lakewood, 2008-05-29 10:45:00
Oh, and Mr. "Omarfidel" (nice name) - if a person puts his fingers in a gun position and screams "bang, bang, you're dead" - the case would be moot. There is no gun, there is no HIV in saliva. Period. Go back to your cave...

Annette, Lakewood, 2008-05-29 10:42:05
I'm appalled that this the stigma is so deep that reason and science does not prevail over ignorance. Of course. we're talking about Texas. the birthplace and stomping grounds of our fearless leader. Dear Lord, when will the madness end? This case must be overturned on appeal.