HIV-positive teen denied bail on sex charges

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EDMONTON, Alberta, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- A Canadian teenage girl charged with having unprotected sex without telling her partners she is HIV-positive was denied bail in Edmonton, Alberta.

The 17-year-old faces two charges of aggravated sexual assault and was arrested Saturday hitchhiking out of the city after police published her name and photograph.

Police sought a court order to publish her identity, which would usually be protected because of her status as a minor. Media reports identifying her have since been taken down from the Internet.

The girl was sought after police received complaints from two males about her HIV status. A third man came forward after her photo was published, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said.

She appeared in court Tuesday and was denied bail.

Her next court appearance was scheduled for Auf. 23, CTV News said.

Canadian law requires anyone with HIV or AIDS to disclose that to prospective partners before having sex.

Meanwhile, rights groups are protesting the police tactics.

Shelley Williams of HIV Edmonton told the CBC the girl's reputation was irreversibly damaged by the publication of her name and picture.

"From a legal standpoint she's a minor; it's not supposed to be disclosed," she said. "It's disclosed and somehow it's supposed to disappear a day later … Well, it's too late, it's already out there."