A former professional wrestler was convicted Nov. 23 by a Cincinnati, Ohio jury on charges that he had sex with several women without telling them he had tested positive for HIV.
According to the Associated Press, Andre Davis was recently charged on 14 felony assault counts in a Hamilton County, Ohio court. The 29-year-old wrestled under the names “Gangster of Love” and “Sweet Sexy Sensation.”
A dozen of Davis’ sex partners testified that he either lied about his HIV status or didn’t tell them at all prior to having unprotected sex. The victims’ health statuses were not revealed.
According to Cincinnati’s WLWT-TV, one woman testified that she confronted Davis after learning about his status. He then told her that “He was , but he knew how not to transmit to other people,” the woman said. She added that Davis apologized and promised to “take responsibility” if she contracted the virus.
Davis’ attorney Greg Cohen argued that the women were promiscuous and said that his client found out about his HIV status through a company and not a doctor, according to the International Business Times.
In 2009, Davis was told by World Wrestling Entertainmentthat he wouldn’t be hired because he failed his physical and tested positive for HIV.
Cohen has plans to appeal the verdict.
Davis will be sentenced on Dec. 21, and the victims will be allowed to speak before the court. The former wrestler faces a minimum of 28 years in prison and a maximum of 112 years.