http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/100316_hiv_man_accused_of_assaulting_boy
HIV Man Accused of Assaulting BoyTuesday, March 16, 2010
Kevin Sellars
SALLY MACDONALD
Prosecutors are investigating a disturbing case they say is a first of its kind in Harris County. Kevin Lee Sellars, 49, of Houston is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child with a deadly weapon. The deadly weapon alleged is HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
A two-month-long investigation resulted in Sellars arrest Friday.
Investigators say they found medical tests inside Sellar's Montrose condo that confirm he has the deadly virus. He is also charged with possession of child pornography.
Last year, Harris County Assistant District Attorney Eric Devlin says Sellars met a 15-year-old boy from Indiana on myspace and formed an online relationship with him.
"Eventaully Kevin Selllars paid for the 15-year-old to fly down from Indiana to Houston," said Devlin.
Sellars is accused of forcing the boy to perform sex acts during a ten day period over the Christmas break.
"The 15-year-old went back to Indiana, and the communication continued to some degree. Then the defendant stated, 'By the way I am HIV positive and have a nice life,'" according to Devlin.Devlin could not confirm nor deny whether the boy has the virus. He says the teenager told his grandmother, who he lives with in Indiana, what happened. The grandmother reported Sellars to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Devlin says the boy had no idea Sellars was HIV positive. Sellars didn't try to keep other parts of his life secret, though. Devlin says investigators found child pornography in his briefcase and that his computer password is "boy lover." Next to his picture on his public myspace page is the quote, "In the great game of life I love chasing boys. Let the chase begin." Sellars writes online about how he loves boys' company and race car driving but never mentions having HIV.
Victims' rights advocate Andy Kahan worked a similar case last year in north Texas. A French man was convicted of knowingly giving the HIV virus to several women in the Dallas area. They later told their story to Oprah.
"Usually when there's one victim there are others. It's important to get the message out there. If anyone has had contact with this defendant they need to get tested," said Kahan.
Investigators say the teen's Internet activity never raised suspicion among his family. His grandmother thought the boy was going to visit his parents in Channelview. No one knew he was traveling to meet a 49-year-old man.
"Some parents put their head in the sand like an ostrich. Some parents get very, very involved. You've got to watch everything your kids does," said Devlin.
He recommends parents have a desktop computer in a public place, monitor their children's personal websites and review the Internet history on their computer.
Sellars is behind bars on $35,000 bond. Prosecutors say they'll ask the judge to raise the bond amount.
