In North Carolina Wednesday, Virgie Norman, an 34-year-old HIV-infected woman, pleaded guilty to having unprotected sex in violation of Gaston County health control measures she had agreed to follow. Norman was sentenced to 24 months in prison; the judge suspended the sentence, placing Norman on probation for 24 months. Conditions of her probation include abiding by the county health restrictions and staying away from areas known for prostitution. Norman has been charged four times in seven years with prostitution-related charges. On Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Short filed a motion to close the court to the public to prevent other HIV patients from discovering that health department officials were testifying about a patient's HIV status and activities relating to that status. Gaston County Health Director Colleen Bridger said she had not asked for a closed trial, although she would not have been opposed to one.

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