The first of four trials for a Lawrence man charged with knowingly exposing women to the HIV virus is scheduled to begin this week.
But Judge Stephen Six on Monday dropped Missouri's request to extradite Robert W. Richardson II for a similar crime across state lines. Johnson County, Mo., prosecutors had 60 days to send a governor's warrant, but they did not meet the deadline.
Richardson will stand trial starting Wednesday in the first of four cases in Douglas County, each of which involves sexual contact with a different woman. A hearing for pre-trial motions is scheduled for this morning.
Richardson's attorney, Thomas Johnson, has filed a motion to dismiss the case. He argued the law his client is charged with breaking is unconstitutional and overly broad.
"The statute has created a class of people, carriers of 'life-threatening' infectious diseases, and prohibited them from having sex if exposure to the life-threatening disease occurs, yet the statute fails to define the key concepts," Johnson wrote.
Richardson is being held in the Douglas County Jail.
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aquakej (anonymous) says…
What sort of "key concepts" about that law aren't clear? If you purposely expose someone to something that will kill them, that seems pretty cut and dry to me.
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
when is this going to be done already he is not worth the time and money speant on all this just be done with him already.
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
that sounded wrong... I mean we do not need to spend more on him and read about him anymore just lock him up already and stop giving him air time that he wants so bad I would say. dark hole bread and water and no meds. long and suffering end.. I know not nice.
whatupdown (anonymous) says…
I would think there would be some healthy federal charges for this kind of crime that should be used.
DownHomeDude (anonymous) says…
Send the perp to the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
They have state of the art medical facilities and love to
coddle criminals.
DHD