HIV-Positive Man Who Transmitted Virus Must Keep 50 Year Sentence

An Iowa man who was sentenced to 50 years in prison for having unprotected sex with several women despite having HIV must continue to serve his full sentence, a judge ruled earlier this month.

Adam Musser filed for post-conviction relief. He is currently serving his sentence for transmitting HIV to four women between 2002 and 2003. At the time, Musser was on medication to treat the virus.

Musser appealed to the federal court, but U.S. district judge James Gritzner said Musser's prison term of 50 years was reasonable, according to the Associated Press. The judge added that Musser was repeatedly subjecting women to health risks, and that his rights were not violated.

Iowa is one of more than 30 states in the U.S. to criminalize HIV transmission.