Teacher sentenced for not revealing HIV

AIKEN, S.C., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A former South Carolina teacher has been sentenced to six years in prison for not telling his ex-wife he had HIV and exposing her to possible infection.

Joel L. Bedenbaugh, 47, married in 2002 and in the five years he was married, never told his wife of his HIV, the Aiken Standard reported Thursday. He told her he took medication for a blood disease.

His ex-wife was not infected with the disease.

State law makes it illegal to knowingly engage in sexual intercourse with another person without first informing them of an HIV infection.

Bedenbaugh was convicted of inappropriate contact with a 13-year-old girl in November 2006, the Standard reported

His medical history came to light when he was investigated for an alleged sexual assault on a juvenile in 2008 and charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Paul Burch ordered Bedenbaugh to register as a sex offender.