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AIDS On Campus: Student Accused of Spreading Virus
By Stephanie A. Crockett, BET.com Staff Writer
http://www.bet.com/articles/0,,c1gb2608-3264,00.html
Updated May 1, 2002 (Huron, S.D.) -- Nikko Briteramos, a freshman basketball player at SiTanka Huron University in South Dakota, was arrested last week and charged with five counts of intentionally exposing his new girlfriend to AIDS through unprotected sex.
But his father, Disraeli Briteramos, says that he's concerned about all of the negative attention his son is getting. The New York Times said he called it a "public lynching," and that his son is being painted as a "viral terrorist who had invaded their pristine community."
"I just hate the fact that he has been stigmatized nationally," Briteramos told the New York Times. "This is my son. He's a great person, a friend to anybody."
As a result of Nikko Briteramos' arrest, hundreds on the small campus are being tested for fear that they have been exposed to the deadly virus.
Nikko Briteramos found out he was HIV positive last month, after he tried to donate blood. Since then, authorities say, he has had sex with his new girlfriend at least five times. His HIV status was only revealed as a result of his arrest; having unprotected sex when you know that you are HIV-positive is crime in South Dakota and several other states.
Health officials are worried that hundreds more on the college campus of 400 students could have been exposed to the virus. According to the Los Angeles Times, there isn't much to do in the town of 12,000, so the students party and have sex often -- without condoms.
"Being drunk...and your hormones are so raging," freshman Tony Dawkins told the L.A. Times about wearing condoms. "It's just like, oh, forget about it."
Briteramos gave health officials the names of 10 women he has had sex with recently, the L.A. Times reported. Of those, two have tested positive for the virus. Those women have supplied the names of 50 men that they have had sex with recently.
"It's just pretty much everybody gets drunk and looks for someone to hook up with. But there's a very limited pool, so you just go around and around," freshman Matt Ratliff told the L.A. Times.
Briteramos' new girlfriend has not tested positive for the virus, but it could take up to six months for it to show up in tests. If convicted, Briteramos could get up to 75 years in prison and a $15,000 fine on each count. The Chicago native is in jail on $10,000 bond.
At least 200 people have been tested for the virus since last week, the New York Times reported. Last year, only 22 cases of HIV were reported in the small farming town.
By Stephanie A. Crockett, BET.com Staff Writer
http://www.bet.com/articles/0,,c1gb2608-3264,00.html
Updated May 1, 2002 (Huron, S.D.) -- Nikko Briteramos, a freshman basketball player at SiTanka Huron University in South Dakota, was arrested last week and charged with five counts of intentionally exposing his new girlfriend to AIDS through unprotected sex.
But his father, Disraeli Briteramos, says that he's concerned about all of the negative attention his son is getting. The New York Times said he called it a "public lynching," and that his son is being painted as a "viral terrorist who had invaded their pristine community."
"I just hate the fact that he has been stigmatized nationally," Briteramos told the New York Times. "This is my son. He's a great person, a friend to anybody."
As a result of Nikko Briteramos' arrest, hundreds on the small campus are being tested for fear that they have been exposed to the deadly virus.
Nikko Briteramos found out he was HIV positive last month, after he tried to donate blood. Since then, authorities say, he has had sex with his new girlfriend at least five times. His HIV status was only revealed as a result of his arrest; having unprotected sex when you know that you are HIV-positive is crime in South Dakota and several other states.
Health officials are worried that hundreds more on the college campus of 400 students could have been exposed to the virus. According to the Los Angeles Times, there isn't much to do in the town of 12,000, so the students party and have sex often -- without condoms.
"Being drunk...and your hormones are so raging," freshman Tony Dawkins told the L.A. Times about wearing condoms. "It's just like, oh, forget about it."
Briteramos gave health officials the names of 10 women he has had sex with recently, the L.A. Times reported. Of those, two have tested positive for the virus. Those women have supplied the names of 50 men that they have had sex with recently.
"It's just pretty much everybody gets drunk and looks for someone to hook up with. But there's a very limited pool, so you just go around and around," freshman Matt Ratliff told the L.A. Times.
Briteramos' new girlfriend has not tested positive for the virus, but it could take up to six months for it to show up in tests. If convicted, Briteramos could get up to 75 years in prison and a $15,000 fine on each count. The Chicago native is in jail on $10,000 bond.
At least 200 people have been tested for the virus since last week, the New York Times reported. Last year, only 22 cases of HIV were reported in the small farming town.
