Woman pleads guilty to felonious assault in HIV case

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of between four and six years for a woman who pleaded guilty to having sex while knowingly having the HIV virus.

Virginia Davis, 24, of North Lima, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court before Judge Maureen Sweeney to a count of felonious assault.

In exchange for her plea, another charge of felonious assault and a charge of falsification were dropped.

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Yacovone said Davis was accused of having unprotected sex with her boyfriend and one other man in 2014.

Yacovone said Davis had told police she was raped, but when police investigated the rape claim, they found it to be unfounded. During the investigation, however, they discovered she had HIV and knew it but did not tell her partners.

She was indicted by a grand jury on a direct presentment Jan 29.

Yacovone said Davis’ attorney will be arguing for a lesser sentence, but he added he would be comfortable as long as the sentence is not less than four years.

In making his recommendation, Yacovone said he researched similar cases in counties surrounding Mahoning and in the majority of those cases a four- to six-year sentence typically was handed down.