- May 5, 2024
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A 26-year-old Port Orange man with HIV was arrested after years of having sex with multiple partners without informing them of his infection, Volusia County Sheriff's Office reported.
Gentry Burns has been charged with three felony counts, as under Florida law, it's illegal for anyone who has HIV to have sex with others without telling them of their disease. VCSO detectives identified three women who engaged in sexual activity with Burns without knowing he was HIV positive.
VCSO reported that the investigation began after Burns's ex-girlfriend reported she believed she contracted HIV from him while dating in 2013. The victim had contacted other women who dated Burns in attempt to warn them. She also provided detectives with names of those Burns could have infected.
Through subpoenaed medical records, VCSO detectives confirmed Burns was diagnosed with HIV in January 2014, and have since identified three victims who confirmed they dated and had sex with Burns without knowing he had HIV. One was diagnosed with the disease in 2017 after dating Burns in 2016.
Burns didn't need to be taken to jail, as he was already in custody on unrelated charges. No bond is allowed on the new charges.
Detectives believe other victims may still come forward and ask that anyone who has dated Burns, and believes they might be at risk, go see a doctor. They should also contact VCSO at 248-1777.
Other diseases for which it is illegal not to inform a sexual partner of include chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, genital herpes simplex, chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, acute salpingitis or syphilis.
