Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Charges Possible In Same Sex AIDS Case

Nevada County could see its first case of attempted murder with AIDS used as the weapon.

According to records at the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, an unidentified man called Jim Westmoreland, criminal investigator for the NCSO and Prescott Police Department, Friday, Feb. 27.

At the time, the caller would not give his name as he is trying to protect his identity. The caller told Westmoreland he had been infected with the HIV virus through consensual sex with a male partner who knew he (the partner) was HIV positive at the time.

According to the report, the partner failed to inform the caller of his HIV status, even though the partner knew he was HIV positive at the time. The caller told Westmoreland he had verified the suspect knew of his (the suspect's) HIV status at the time they had sex.

The unidentified man told Westmoreland he wanted to assure his identity would be protected before he filed charges and began prosecution of his partner.

On Tuesday, March 3, the man called Westmoreland back, stating he had spoken with 8th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Brent Haltom about the situation.

He said Haltom had informed him his identity would be protected during the criminal investigation and filing of charges, but the victim would have to testify in open court at some point in time.

As of press time, no formal charges have been filed in the Nevada County Circuit Clerk's Office in this case.

ONE KILLED/br>

A one-vehicle accident early Saturday morning, Feb. 7, left one person dead.

According to reports from the Arkansas State Police, Tieasha L. Clark, 21, of Camden, living at Fort Hood, Texas, was driving a 1994 Eagle east on Highway 4 near Rosston when she failed to negotiate a curve.

The vehicle left the road, striking a tree and bursting into flames. Clark was trapped inside the vehicle ad pronounced dead at the scene by Nevada County Coroner Tommy Glass.

At the time of the accident it was raining and the roads were wet. Cpl. Bobby Carlton worked the wreck for the ASP.

TEAM ASSEMBLED

A team of homicide investigators has been assembled to look into the Chester Hooker murder case.

Hooker was slain at the Broadway Hotel, which he owned, on September 6, 1997. To date, law enforcement agencies have made no arrests in the case.

According to reports, Col. John Bailey, of the ASP, wrote the Hooker family stating he was preparing to ask members of the multi-agency Homicide Review Task Force to look into the matter.

The task force include investigators from the ASP, FBI and local agencies. It was formed to review unsolved murder cases.

Family members have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who murdered Hooker. Jerry Hooker, the victim's son, said the family is considering increasing the amount of the reward.

An autopsy on Hooker's body indicated the 77-year-old man was beaten to death with a blunt instrument. The autopsy was performed at the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock.