HIV Case Raises Constitutional Issues

Gary Blue, attorney for Nikko Briteramos, who is accused of knowingly exposing a woman to HIV, argued Thursday that the state law under which his client is charged is unconstitutional. In court papers, Blue, who is seeking dismissal of the case, said the law threatened to inhibit the fundamental right to reproduce, and was unconstitutionally vague because it failed to provide sufficient guidelines for prohibited behavior. Briteramos faces three felony counts of intentionally exposing a woman to HIV during sex. Blue pointed to a 1942 US Supreme Court decision in arguing Briteramos' fundamental right to reproduce. Briteramos, a SiTanka-Huron university basketball player from Chicago, was arrested April 23. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to 45 years.

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