The trial of Michael L. Johnson, a former college wrestler who allegedly exposed unsuspecting partners to HIV, began on Tuesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The 23-year-old wrestling champ was expelled from Lindenwood University after he was charged in the case. He has been held in prison since then on a $100,000 cash bail, the news site notes.
Known by the nickname “Tiger Mandingo” on social media, Johnson is accused of infecting two with the virus that causes AIDS and endangering four in encounters that took place between Jan. 26, 2013, and Sept. 29, 2013.
According to the Post-Dispatch, police found 32 videos—mostly filmed in Johnson’s dorm room—of him having unprotected sex, although officials are unsure how many different men were on the tapes.
The first victim, who goes by “DTL” in court documents, told police that he had oral and anal sex with Johnson on Jan. 26. The alleged victim said Johnson told him he was “disease-free” after he asked. Johnson did not wear a condom, and about a month later, DTL was diagnosed with gonorrhea and HIV.
The police note that Johnson’s medical records showed that the wrestler had tested HIV-positive three weeks before engaging in sex with DTL. In an interview with detectives, Johnson also allegedly admitted to having unprotected sex despite knowing his HIV status, the Post-Dispatch notes.
The other victims also acknowledged having sex with Johnson without using protection and said that he did not reveal his diagnosis to them, either.
Read more at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.