Accused of hiding HIV, claims ignorance

WINDSOR, Ontario, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A Canadian man convicted of having unprotected sex with women despite knowing he was HIV-positive claimed Wednesday he wasn't aware of the risk.

Carl Leone, 32, made the claim at a dangerous offender hearing in Windsor, Ontario, which borders Detroit, the Windsor Star reported.

Leone was convicted in May 2007 of 15 counts of aggravated sexual assault after pleading guilty to engaging in sex with a series of partners during a 7-year span without informing them he had tested positive for the AIDS virus.

Leone testified he is a "changed person" who wasn't aware of the risk of unprotected sex, and that he has found Jesus, the newspaper said.

Five of his former sex partners have since tested positive for HIV, including a 16-year-old he first courted on the Internet, the report said.

Superior Court Justice Joseph Quinn was scheduled to sentence Leone April 4.

"I'm facing some serious prison time," Leone told reporters.