Man accused of exposing 300 to HIV awaits trial date

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Dexter, Missouri, man who admitted to exposing as many as 300 people to HIV will have to wait another month for a trial date.

David Mangum is being held without bond at the Stoddard County Jail and faces 21 counts of recklessly exposing another to HIV.

He appeared May 13 to set the case for trial, but the hearing has been delayed until June 24.

Mangum's case, opened last August, was moved to Butler County after a November request for a change of venue. The case is now being heard by Judge Michael Martin Pritchett.

The charges Mangum faces stem from sexual incidents reported to have occurred between Mangum and two additional victims.

The first victim approached police Aug. 26 and said he had been lied to about Mangum's HIV status before their first sexual encounter in 2012. The two were in a relationship from November 2012 through June.

Upon being interviewed by police, Mangum admitted to having tested positive for HIV in 2003. He claimed at the time to have had 300 partners since being tested -- 50 to 60 of whom he said were in Stoddard County.

Authorities encourage anyone who has been involved or knows someone who has been involved with Mangum to contact the Stoddard County Public Health Center in Bloomfield at 573-568-4593 for anonymous testing.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.