Trial ordered for man accused of spreading HIV to minor

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A trial has been ordered for a man accused of knowingly spreading HIV to a minor in Tulsa that he met through a mentoring program.

The Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1M9W8Gg ) reports the victim testified at 24-year-old Elton Howland Rhoades' preliminary hearing Tuesday that she had known him for two years.

She testified that they had consensual sex and that Rhoades knew her age, but that he told her he did not have any sexually transmitted diseases.

According to a detective's affidavit, the victim tested positive for HIV two months later and informed police.

Rhoades is charged with three counts of second-degree rape and three counts of exposing others to HIV.

Rhoades' public defender asked for his client's bond to be reduced, but the judge denied the request. The suspect's arraignment is scheduled for Monday.

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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com