Crime and Punishment
Latah County Man Charged with Spreading HIV
By Contributing Writer, 12-23-05
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Insulated by geography, Moscow and the Palouse have been largely insulated from many of the troubles of larger metropolitan areas. That all changed with the arrest of Kanay Mubita on December 7. Mubita, 31, has been charged with "Transfer of Bodily Fluid Which May Contain the HIV Virus," a felony under Idaho code.
Originally charged with one count, six more women have come forward alleging sexual contact with Mubita, bringing the total counts to seven in two separate cases. Three other women have made contact with Moscow Police but have not made formal statements. Authorities have received information about nine other potential victims who have not contacted authorities. All of the women are between the ages of 21 and 37 and are identified by initials only. Mubita faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a
$15,000 fine on each count.
In a short interview at the Latah County Jail, where he is being held on a $20,000 bond, Mubita, who is divorced, denied the allegations, stating he didn’t even know some of the women. "I don’t have unprotected sex," he said. He went on to say he doesn’t engage in sex outside of a relationship.
He also stated he always used a condom with his ex-girlfriend, who brought the original charge against him. Authorities say he stated he is the father of his ex-girlfriend’s child; Mubita said no paternity has been established. He said it was scheduled for later this month, but now he wants to postpone it until his legal battle is over.
Mubita stated he believes his ex-girlfriend is bringing the charge because of arguments they’ve had. He went on to say the NAACP had been contacted because he feels he’s being singled out because he is black.
When authorities first contacted Mubita on December 6 and questioned him about having been notified of his HIV status, he denied having been notified; he also denied having sex with anyone but his ex-wife. While being interviewed by one officer, another called a health department official who stated Mubita had been informed several times of his HIV status. Police then asked him to make a written statement. Mubita asked to go home and write it; police agreed.
The next day, police received a call from Mubita’s caseworker, who stated he was upset about Tuesday’s interview and asked them to check on him. When officers arrived at his home, he stated he had tested positive for HIV.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 20 at 9 a.m. before Magistrate William Hamlett. Charles Kovis, Latah County Public Defender, will represent Mubita. The Moscow-North Central District Health Department is recommending confidential HIV counseling and testing to anyone who has had sexual contact with Mubita. If the initial test results are negative, testing should be repeated every three months until six after the last exposure.
According to a health department release, humans are the only reservoir for the HIV virus. Transmission occurs by sexual contact, sharing contaminated needles, transfusion of infected blood and blood products and by transplantation of infected organs and tissues. Health care workers are required to report all cases to Public Health and an epidemiologist investigates each case. The epidemiologist then identifies and counsels any person who may have been exposed to the virus.
Kai Eiselein is the Editor of the Latah Eagle, the only countywide newspaper on the Palouse. Kai is married with one child, and, though his family has been in the newspaper business for more than a century, he says he considers himself a "photojournalist first, and a writier second." This article was first printed in the Latah Eagle.
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Comments
Obviously people need to take some precautions, and if you are in a public place and see blood or fluid then advise the management or clean it using disinfectant.
<a >HIV Tester Online</a>