Tupelo man charged with sexual battery of 15 year old and exposing her to HIV - previously served ti
By J.B. Clark/Daily Journal
TUPELO, MS
A Tupelo man is charged with knowingly exposing a juvenile to HIV just three months after he said he was released from prison where he served three years for similar charges.
Robert Gardner, 29, of Tupelo, was charged Tuesday with sexual battery and knowingly exposing a juvenile to HIV after it was reported to Saltillo police that Gardner engaged in sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl.
His bond was set at $1 million in Lee County Justice Court on Wednesday morning.
Gardner was charged in February 2010 with having unprotected sex with at least two women while knowing he is HIV positive.
He said, in Lee County Justice Court on Wednesday, that he was released from prison on May 2.
Saltillo Police Chief Grant Bailey said they began their investigation after receiving a complaint about Gardner and his involvement with a girl under the age of 16 last week.
Gardner was picked up by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for violating post-release probation and then later served with an arrest warrant from the Saltillo Police Department while in the Lee County Adult Jail.
Bailey said police have talked with possible additional complainants and expect more charges in the future. He said there also may be additional arrests.
jb.clark@journalinc.com
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