TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A western Indiana judge has ordered the release of a man accused of intentionally spreading HIV for more than a decade and delayed his trial until February because some documents and witnesses were not shared with the defense sooner.
Thirty-two-year-old Isiah Benford of Terre Haute walked out of the Vigo County Jail on Thursday while he awaits trial on 27 criminal counts including aggravated battery and failure to warn his partners of his HIV-positive status.
Vigo Superior Court Judge Michael Lewis said he’s not happy with prosecutors for limiting the defense’s ability to prepare its case.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts says motions filed and records requested by the defense “resulted in a large amount of evidence being turned over to the defendant just within the last couple of weeks.”
