Sentencing is set for November.
Frederick, Md (KM). A Frederick man who had sexual relations with several women knowing he was HIV positive was in Circuit Court on Friday. Rudolph Jericho Smith, 37, entered an alford plea to three counts of 2nd-degree assault, and three counts of knowingly attempting to transfer HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. Under an alford plea, the defendant doesn’t admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence for a conviction if the case went to trial.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 4rh. “It’s my understanding that the defense is hoping for a sentence of somewhere around five years. We’re hoping it will be double that,” says State’s Attorney Charlie Smith. “We’re hoping it will be double. We’re hoping that it’s going to more like ten years in the Division of Correction.”
Rudolph Smith will remain incarcerated at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center until sentencing, the State’s Attorney’s Office says.
The Frederick Police Department began an investigation into Rudolph Smith during the summer of 2017, when several women came forward, claiming the defendant had infected them with HIV. It took them a considerable amount of time, but detectives were able to determine that Rudolph Smith was HIV positive, and he knew it. “And that even knowing he was HIV positive, he continued to have unprotected sex with the women, without informing them of his HIV status,” says State’s Attorney Charlie Smith.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith describes the facts of this case as “disturbing.” “For someone to knowingly to transmit a disease such as this, a virus such as this, is horrible. We have to think about the victims too. They’re going to have to deal with this for the rest of their lives,” he says.
By Kevin McManus