Lindenwood Student Charged With Knowingly Infecting Another With HIV

A Lindenwood University wrestler is accused of knowingly infecting another person with HIV, a felony.

Michael L. Johnson, 22, of the 800 block of Cunningham in St. Charles, was charged Thursday with recklessly risking infection of another

St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar said the charge is the result of a 5-month investigation.

In late May of 2013, a man contacted St. Charles Police and said he believed Johnson infected him with the HIV virus after he met the Lindenwood University student through social media.

An investigation showed Johnson and the victim were sexually intimate on at least two occasions in a dorm room on the Lindenwood University campus. During those encounters, the victim contracted the HIV virus, according to a St. Charles police news release.

Medical records show Johnson was told in January 2013 that he is HIV positive. Johnson knew he was HIV positive before having sex with the victim but did not tell him.

Johnson was a member of the Lindenwood University wrestling team. Although the instances are extremely rare of contracting the virus through nonsexual physical contact, subjects that had contact with Johnson may consider contacting their physicians.

The St. Charles Police Department is also requesting that any other individuals who may have been in an intimate relationship with Johnson to contact the St. Charles police detective bureau at (636) 949-3320.

Johnson is being held in St. Charles County jail. Bail has been set at $100,000 cash only.