TWIN FALLS — A Twin Falls man is accused of knowingly spreading fluids that may have contained HIV during sexual encounters.
TWIN FALLS — A Twin Falls man is accused of knowingly spreading fluids that may have contained HIV during sexual encounters.
Bryan Thieme, 37, was charged June 15 with transferring bodily fluids which may contain HIV, according to a statement from the Twin Falls Police Department.
Police said Thieme had consensual, unprotected sex with at least two different men in May. They believe there may be more victims and are encouraging any other possible victims to contact Detective Ken Rivers.
A person found guilty of knowingly transferring bodily fluids that may contain HIV can face up to 15 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine under Idaho law.
It’s hard to say what the public health risk is in a case like this without knowing more about an accused person’s diagnosis and treatment, said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokeswoman Niki Forbing-Orr.
“If he was receiving treatment, then the risk to the public would have been very low, but if he was not being treated, then it would be much higher,” Forbing-Orr said.
Situations such as this are “pretty rare,” Forbing-Orr said.
There were seven new cases of HIV reported in south-central Idaho in 2017, according to data from the Department of Health and Welfare, and one new case reported between January and March of this year.
Six people, including Thieme, have been charged with knowingly transferring body fluid that main contain HIV in Twin Falls County since 2007, according to the Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Thieme is also involved in another pending case in Twin Falls County, though he has not been charged in that case. James Shaff, a 33-year-old from Twin Falls, is accused of having sexual contact with drunken teenagers at Thieme’s house, also in May.
Thieme has a prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that there has only been one other person charged with knowingly transferring body fluid that may contain HIV in Idaho since 2012.
