By Scott Harvey
McKinney – A Collin County jury has sentenced a suburban Dallas man to 45 years in prison for knowingly infecting six women with the AIDS virus.
53-year-old Philippe Padieu (pah-DOO'), of Frisco, was convicted on the six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Wednesday. He was sentenced to 45 years for five of the cases and 25 years for the remaining case. The sentences will run concurrent.
Assistant District Attorney Lisa King had told jurors today that Padieu deserved a life sentence, while Defense Attorney Bennie House said Padieu may have made mistakes as a "modern day Casanova," but argued the defendant did not intentionally spread the virus.
The unusual case has drawn national attention, including a film crew from the ABC newsmagazine 20/20.
Padieu is a former martial arts instructor who continued to have unprotected sex after he tested positive for HIV in 2005.