US man gets 45 years for spreading HIV through sex

Padieu was convicted on six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Since HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, prosecutors contended Padieu's bodily fluids were a deadly weapon.

Padieu is a former martial arts instructor who continued to have unprotected sex after he tested positive for HIV in 2005.

The prosecutor said Padieu deserved a life sentence. But defense attorney Bennie House said Padieu may have made mistakes as a "modern-day Casanova", but did not intentionally spread the virus. He said a 20-year sentence would be fair.

Padieu had earlier told the court that he was a victim of overzealous prosecutors. He said the women who accused him had all had multiple partners.

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