Date:         Tue, 29 Mar 1994 16:27:39 EST
Reply-To: dionisio@INFINET.COM
Subject:      HIV+ rapist sentenced to life*5

MAN WITH AIDS GETS LIFE SENTENCE FOR RAPE

    MIAMI, (Reuter) (3-24-94) - A man who knew he carried the AIDS
virus when he kidnapped and raped a young boy was sentenced Thursday
to five life terms in prison for attempted murder.

    Ignacio A. Perea Jr was convicted February 8 in the first trial in
the United States to uphold that the AIDS virus is a deadly weapon.

    The jury found Perea guilty of kidnapping, lewd and lascivious
assault, sexual battery and attempted first-degree murder of an
11-year-old boy who was abducted while riding his bicycle in September
1991.

    Perea is awaiting trial on charges of raping two other boys who
were abducted off the street in November 1991. None of the boys tested
positive for the virus.

    When he was arrested, Perea carried a clinic receipt indicating
that he had previously tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS.

    Before handing down the sentence, Dade County Circuit Judge
Michael Chavies heard testimony from the unidentified victim, who said
he would never forget the fear he experienced. ``It'll stay with me
for the rest of my life," the boy said.