HIV-positive Calgary man sent to hospital under isolation order
Calgary Herald
CALGARY — A Calgary man who pleaded guilty to a sexual assault when he did not tell his partner he was HIV positive will go to a psychiatric hospital in Ponoka under a rare public health isolation order.
Paul Thomson pleaded guilty in Red Deer court to a sexual assault and breaching a court order.
He was sentenced to 46 months in custody, which meant the time he has already served in custody because of a two-for-one credit.
Thomson originally faced 11 charges in relation to a sexual assault against a woman, who cannot be named, but that was dropped to two.
He’s been in custody since 2009 and his sentence ended with the plea Tuesday.
Crown prosecutor Robin Joudrey said on Tuesday the isolation order came from his defence lawyer and health team and she could not speak about it.
Alberta Health Services could not discuss the patient’s case.
According to the Public Health Act section on isolation orders, “a medical officer of health who knows of or has reason to suspect the existence of a communicable disease or a public health emergency within the boundaries of the health region in which the medical officer of health has jurisdiction may initiate an investigation to determine whether any action is necessary to protect the public health.”
Joudrey said Thomson had to provide a DNA sample as part of his plea.
“He’s on the sex-offender registry list,” said Joudrey.
Thomson’s lawyer, Richard Wyrozub, did not return calls Tuesday.
