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CHIACCHIA CHARGED WITH NOT TELLING SEX PARTNER ABOUT HIV
By: J.T. Sloan, Staff Writer - 01-25-10 - 12:00 a.m PDT
Former U.S. Olympic equestrian rider and part-time Ocala resident Darren Chiacchia, was arrested last Wednesday for violating state law that required him to disclose he was HIV positive to his one-time sexual partner.45-year old Chiacchia is also known to be a Florida Horse Park Board Member, a 2003 Pan American gold medallist and a distinguished activist for the country's equestrian community.
Darren Chiacchia also is known for his farm that teaches students how to ride horses.
The third-degree felony charge that was originally placed on Darren Chiacchia may be upgraded to first degree felony if the district attorney has their way.
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Chiacchia is allegedly charged with multiple violations of not disclosing his HIV status to his sexual partners. According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office arrest report, the victim told investigators that from February to June 2009 he and Chiacchia had a un-protected sexual relationship.
The victim told deputies that, while he and Chiacchia were vacationing in New York, the victim some how, managed to take a peak at Chiacchia's medical paperwork. Perhaps prescriptions of HIV medicines that patients now take to contain the virus.
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The report redacts what those documents said, but the law Chiacchia is accused of breaking ( Florida Statute 384.24(2), makes it unlawful for any person who knowingly has "human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection" to have sex with another person without disclosing their medical status.
The victim told investigators that he asked Chiacchia at the beginning of their relationship about his medical "status" and that Chiacchia told him he was negative for any infection. The State Attorney's Office issued a subpoena for Chiacchia's medical records and obtained them. However, Circuit Judge Edward Scott ordered that the medical records be used only as part of the Sheriff's Office investigation.
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We have seen cases like this before such as the case in Iowa back in December 2009 (CLICK HERE), the case in Canada (CLICK HERE), and the Oklahoma case of a 64 year old man arrested for not disclosing his HIV status (CLICK HERE). One would like to know the reason for not disclosing this type of information to their sexual partner. Regardless of stigma, you are taking someone's life in to your hands.
Could it be that they feel that if they are infected, they will infect others? Or is it deeper than that? one has to wonder why people would have sex with strangers without knowing what their status is. Is it self hatred?, ignorance or lack of education all together?
Hopefully one day, gays and heterosexuals will get the point that this is a life threatening disease regardless of the medicines available today. You only have one life and you should do your best to protect it. Not take your sexual urges to places where you had no intention of going.
