Mid-Ohio Valley Health Alert: HIV-Positive Sex Worker Reportedly Having Sexual Contact With More Than 211 Partners | News, sports, jobs

Marietta/Belpre Health Department Director Barbara Bradley, center, speaks at a news conference Thursday morning about HIV testing and treatment services the health department will offer people in connection with a Washington County Sheriff’s Department case that was determined to be a HIV-positive sex worker may have had sexual contact with more than 211 people as Chief Deputy Mark Warden (left) and Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden (right) listen. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

MARIETTA – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office issued a public health appeal during a news conference Thursday afternoon regarding an HIV-positive sex worker they arrested this week who is believed to have had sexual contact with more than 200 people People from several states, including Washington County, had.

“On May 14, 2024, the (Southeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force) filed charges against a local sex trafficker as part of an investigation.” Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden said during the press conference. “During this investigation, they had learned that this individual had tested positive for HIV in 2022…This individual continued to engage in sex trafficking and through the investigation, officers had learned that over 211 individuals…had either physical or telephone contact with this individual.” ,, said the overseer.

During the press conference, he clarified that the sex trafficker is a sex worker. He said an official from the sheriff’s office and Marietta Police Department will contact those 211 people to inform them and ask them to get tested.

“We want citizens out there to understand that there will be a deputy sheriff who will take care of these individuals that we have numbers for.” said the overseer. “They are not in trouble, this is public health awareness. This is not a scam.”

He said the sheriff’s office deputy who calls people will tell them what they need to do to report to the Marietta/Belpre Health Department for testing. He confirmed the calls would begin Thursday and said the sheriff’s office needed people for them “Be brutally honest” when they are called.

Linda Leccesse

Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden said her department’s officer who contacts people will refer them “To the health department for further information.”

Chief Deputy Warden confirmed that during the taskforce’s investigation, the information about who was in contact with the HIV-positive person and their phone numbers was found on the phone the person used for his business as a sex worker.

He confirmed that the HIV-positive sex worker is currently cooperating with the investigation.

The investigation returned to the question of who had contact with the sex worker in 2022, but the case remains under investigation, Chief Deputy Warden said.

“This investigation is continuing and interviews are being conducted again to protect the health of the public and to try to identify the other people who have been in contact with this individual.” he said.

The people the HIV-positive sex worker came into contact with come from several states.

“‘This case could originate anywhere from Florida on the East Coast, but there are local people we will reach out to.” said Chief Deputy Warden.

He said the HIV-positive person is currently cooperating. At the news conference, he declined to reveal the person’s identity, but said he was charged on May 14 with engaging in solicitation after testing positive for HIV.

According to a news release from the Washington County Grand Jury on Wednesday, Linda Leccesse was indicted on a third-degree felony count of soliciting after testing positive for HIV. Chief Deputy Warden confirmed that the individual named in the indictments was the subject of the press conference. When asked later Thursday if Luccese was the HIV-positive sex worker, he confirmed that she was.

Leccese’s indictment states that from approximately Jan. 1, 2022, to May 13, at 101 Market St., Marietta, she solicited another person to engage in sexual activity for payment, knowing that she was positive for HIV had been tested.

Marietta District Court records indicate Lucesse is 30 years old and her address is Market Street.

Representatives from the Marietta/Belpre Health Department also attended the press conference.

“For this specific case with the Sheriff’s Department, we are asking you, you and your family members, to get tested and call 740-373-0611 ext. 634…Please let the receptionist know you are part of the sheriff’s case so she knows who to forward your call to for an appointment or for more information.” said Health Department Administrator Barbara Bradley.

She said the health department is the only public health facility in Washington County that can provide same-day testing and treatment for most sexually transmitted infections and accepts insurance, medical cards and private pay patients. She said there are no residency requirements to receive the health department’s HIV test.

Bradley said for people who don’t have health insurance and are private patients, the health department provides a small grant they may be able to use to help.

“The Marietta/Belpre Health Department is a judgment-free zone with complete confidentiality.” Bradley said.

Bradley emphasized that this affects not only the people who visited the HIV-positive sex worker, but also her significant others and people with whom one of them may have had something to do “a risky undertaking.”

Bradley confirmed that the health department is working on outreach plans to later reach those affected by the situation.

Health Ministry Nursing Director Dianna Beck said the problem of people coming into contact with HIV-positive sex workers may go back further than 2022 because it takes 18 to 90 days for HIV antibodies to be detected in a person’s body.

She also said that just over half of people with HIV have symptoms such as sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and other mono-like symptoms, and that the incubation period for HIV is one to six weeks, so sometimes people don’t know they are HIV- positive.

After the press conference, Beck said that due to the situation, they expected an increased number of people to undergo HIV testing and had already ordered additional test materials in advance.

Chief Deputy Warden emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office wants people to stay away from engaging in sex trafficking.

No hearings are currently scheduled for Lecesse.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department in Parkersburg said it is also monitoring the situation and is always on the lookout for an increase in HIV and other communicable diseases in the area. If anyone has concerns and would like to get tested, call a local health department or the MOVHD office at 304-485-7374 to schedule a test.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at [email protected]