A 30-year-old sex worker in Ohio, Linda Leccesse, has been found to have had sexual contact with over 200 clients despite knowing she was HIV-positive. Authorities are urging those who may have been in contact with her to get tested, assuring them that their confidentiality will be maintained.

Leccesse has been aware of her HIV-positive status since January 1, 2022, when she was tested. Despite this, she continued to solicit clients, primarily in Marietta, a small city in southeast Ohio near the border of West Virginia. Authorities believe that her clients may be spread across various states along the East Coast, including Florida.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden emphasized the widespread potential impact during a press conference. “This case could stem anywhere from Florida up to the East Coast, but there are local individuals that we will be reaching out to,” he said. The sheriff’s office, along with the Marietta Police Department, has been contacting known clients of Leccesse to alert them of the situation. Warden clarified that these individuals are not in legal trouble but urged them to come forward for their health's sake.

Leccesse's crimes were discovered after her arrest on May 13 for soliciting sex. Following her arrest, police discovered that she had been aware of her HIV-positive status for over two years. On May 14, she was indicted for engaging in solicitation after a positive HIV test, which is a third-degree criminal offense.

The Marietta and Belpre Health Department is also involved, urging people who may have come into contact with Leccesse to be "brutally honest" with officials. Barbara Bradley, the health department administrator, stated that their facility is a judgment-free zone that maintains full confidentiality. She noted that not only Leccesse’s clients but also their sexual partners might be at risk.

Authorities have initiated efforts to notify and screen potentially affected individuals. Deputy Chief Warden stressed that the public should not view these calls as scams. “We want the citizens out there to understand that there will be a deputy sheriff reaching out to these individuals that we have numbers for,” he said. “This is public health awareness.”

According to reports, Leccesse has had sexual contact with 211 clients since January 1, 2022. Most of these clients were solicited in Marietta, but they reside across the East Coast. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to conduct interviews to identify others who might have been exposed.

Bradley reiterated the importance of honesty in this matter, highlighting that the health department’s primary concern is the safety and well-being of the public. She assured me that the department is focused on providing necessary support and treatment to those affected.

(Input from various sources) 

(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)