An HIV-positive sailor who had consensual unprotected sex with two women has been sentenced to three months' confinement.
A military judge also demoted Petty Officer 1st Class Steven R. Franklin in rank to seaman recruit Tuesday. Franklin had pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and disobeying an order. According to testimony in a special court-martial at Norfolk Naval Station, Franklin ignored orders prohibiting unprotected sex. The assault charge stemmed from the likelihood that unprotected consensual sex would cause serious harm or death. The 37-year-old aviation electronics technician was diagnosed in 2003 with HIV. His civilian lawyer, Greg McCormack, said Franklin's actions didn't warrant a bad-conduct discharge or time in the brig.
