PORT ORANGE MAN ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF FAILING TO INFORM SEXUAL PARTNERS OF HIV INFECTION

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office has reported that a Port Orange man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been charged with having sex with multiple partners without informing them of his infection. 

Gentry Burns, 26 (DOB 9/14/1993), is charged with three felony counts under Florida Statute 384.24(2), after Volusia sheriff’s detectives identified three women who engaged in sexual activity with him without knowing he was HIV positive.

The investigation started after an ex-girlfriend of Burns came forward to report she believed she contracted HIV from him while dating him in 2013. The victim had been reaching out to contact other women who were dating Burns in an attempt to warn them. She also provided detectives with the names of other women she believed Burns could have infected.

Detectives confirmed through subpoenaed medical records that Burns was diagnosed HIV positive in January 2014. Detectives also identified three victims who cooperated with the investigation and confirmed they dated and engaged in sexual activity with Burns without knowing he was HIV positive. One was diagnosed HIV positive in 2017 after dating Burns in 2016.

Burns was already in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail on unrelated charges and will remain there on his new charges, for which no bond is allowed.

Detectives believe other victims may still come forward. Anyone who has dated Burns and believes they might be at risk is urged to see a doctor and to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 386-248-1777.

Under Florida law, it’s illegal for anyone who knows they have any of several sexually transmitted diseases to have sex with another person without informing them of the disease. Those diseases are: HIV, chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, genital herpes simplex, chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)/acute salpingitis, or syphilis.