WILMETTE – A Wilmette resident charged by Cook County state’s attorney on October 10 with knowingly transmitting HIV to three women he dated is scheduled to return to court on November 8, 2016.
Jimmy Amutavi, 46, had unprotected sex with three women repeatedly without ever telling them he was HIV-positive, Cook County prosecutors alleged in court on October 10. Amutavi subsequently posted bail, which was set at $150,000, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office .
If convicted, Amutavi faces three to seven years in prison for each charge.
In Cook County Court on October 10, Amutavi denied having the virus despite testing positive in December 2001, according to the Chicago Tribune. Amutavi’s attorney argued the retroviral medication he was taking made it nearly impossible for him to transmit the HIV virus.
Amutavi worked as a personal trainer and according to prosecutors, all three women were his clients between April 2015 and 2016. Amutavi dated each woman for months, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Cook county prosecutors charged Amutavi with three counts of criminal transmission of HIV, a Class 2 felony. Cook County Judge Laura M. Sullivan barred him from contacting the victims, the Chicago Tribune reported.