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<H2><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Eight felony counts added to Moscow HIV
case; Kanay Mubita’s court dates are this week </FONT></H2><FONT
face="Times New Roman,Times"><BR></FONT>
<ADDRESS><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">By Omie Drawhorn<BR>Daily News staff
writer </FONT></ADDRESS><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times"><BR>Moscow resident
Kanay Mubita faces eight more felony counts related to his sexual relations with
women who were unaware of his status as an HIV virus carrier. </FONT>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">The move brings Mubita’s tally to 15
felony charges. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said
he will file the charges after the weekend when Judge Bill Hamlett is available.
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Mubita tested positive for the virus in
December 2001 with the North Central Health District of Idaho and again in
January 2002, according to Latah County court records. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Mubita allegedly failed to tell any of his
victims, some of whom wish to remain unidentified, of his HIV status before
engaging in sexual intercourse, Thompson said. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">When questioned by Moscow police, Mubita
denied knowing his HIV status, but the health district told police Mubita had
been informed and had signed a disclosure stating he understood the punishment
for exposing another person to the HIV virus, according to court records.
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Mubita’s lawyer, Charles Kovis, was
unavailable for comment. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Mubita, who holds a Zambian passport, has
been held at the Latah County Jail on a $20,000 bond since Dec. 7 when he was
arrested and charged with the seven original counts. A court appearance is
scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday and a preliminary hearing is set for 8:30 a.m.
Friday. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">“The judge will decide if there will be an
additional hearing for the new counts,” Thompson said. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">The new victims could have heard about
Mubita’s HIV status through a variety of sources, including the media and
additional victims, he added. “The police have a list of people who might be
victims and are investigating the situation.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Carole Moehrle, director of the North
Central Health District, has seen an increase in the calls and screening of all
kinds of sexually transmitted diseases. “The word is getting out and people have
determined that they want to start the new year off healthy,” she said.
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">Thompson said he is unaware of whether the
victims have tested positive for HIV. Moehrle encourages people to come forward
and get tested. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times">“If people have a lifestyle with more than
one sexual partner, they have greater risk.”
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