Trial delayed again for HIV-infected prisoner

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Dexter man who admitted to exposing as many as 300 people to HIV appeared in court last week, but his trial was rescheduled for early August.

David Lee Mangum faces 21 counts of recklessly exposing another to HIV. He appeared May 13 to set the case for trial, but the hearing was delayed until June 24. When June 24 arrived, the hearing was continued again. No reason was given.

It has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 5 in Butler County.

Mangum's case was moved to Butler County after a November request for a change of venue. Judge Michael Martin Pritchett is hearing the case.

In a Feb. 11 hearing, Mangum was denied a bond reduction. He has been allowed no bond.

When his bond was revoked on Sept. 6, Judge Joe Z. Satterfield wrote a scathing reason for his decision.

"In consideration of the conscious disregard by the defendant for the safety, health and well-being of numerous individuals over a 10-year period from multiple states, as alleged in the probable cause affidavit, the court finds that the defendant is a danger to the community and orders that defendant be held without bond," Satterfield wrote.

The 21 charges stem from reported sexual encounters that occurred between Mangum and two additional victims.

Dexter police detective Cory Mills detailed his interviews with the newly discovered victims in a pair of probable-cause affidavits filed in Stoddard County.

Each of the affidavits detail Mills approaching the victim and discussing their sexual relationship with Mangum. Both admitted to multiple encounters, and both say they were lied to by Mangum regarding his HIV status.

One victim stated at the time he planned to schedule a test and indicated he was "concerned he would also be HIV positive."

Through the investigation, Mills interviewed additional alleged victims from Stoddard, Dunklin and surrounding counties. The first victim approached police Aug. 26 and said he had been lied to about Mangum's HIV status before their first sexual encounter in 2012. The two were in a relationship from November 2012 through June 2013.

When interviewed by police, Mangum admitted to having tested positive for HIV in 2003. He claimed 300 partners since being tested -- 50 to 60 in Stoddard County.