A Lawrence man convicted of exposing three women to HIV was sentenced Wednesday to 32 months in prison.

Robert W. Richardson II apologized to those he had “touched with fear” during an emotional speech before he was sentenced – but said that while his actions might have been unethical, they were not criminal.

“Fighting to put me in a cage will do far, far more harm than good,” Richardson said.

Judge Stephen Six disagreed, giving Richardson the 32-month sentence.

Jurors last month found Richardson, 30, guilty of exposing three women to HIV by having unprotected sex with them and not telling them of his status.

Jurors said they were appalled by the 30-year-old Richardson’s deceptions with the women, most of all his explanation that his health problems were caused by a heart condition. He claimed he was being truthful by saying he had a “H.A.A.R.T.” condition, or Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy – his name for his HIV-treatment drug regimen.

He was found not guilty of exposing a fourth woman. A fifth woman – who was involved in the recent trial as a witness but not a victim – has charges pending against Richardson in Johnson County, Mo.

And a sixth woman emerged after the trial last month to claim that she had been exposed to HIV by Richardson between Feb. 12 and 13, 2005.

Richardson also has cases pending against him in Emporia and Kansas City, Kan., involving some of the same women.