Time: 2024-05-20
An Ohio sex worker, identified as Linda Leccesse, continued her work with over 200 clients despite being aware of her HIV-positive status. State officials are now urging individuals who engaged in 'risky business' with her to come forward for testing. Linda Leccesse, 30, had interactions with at least 211 clients from various states since January 1, 2022, when she discovered her HIV-positive condition after undergoing a test. Most of her solicitations took place on Market Street in Marietta, a small city in southeast Ohio near West Virginia. However, the potentially infected individuals are suspected to be scattered along the East Coast. The Washington County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden mentioned that the case could have ramifications from Florida up to the East Coast, with local outreach planned for individuals in the area. Authorities have started contacting known clients of Leccesse to inform them of the situation and encourage others who had contact with her to get in touch with law enforcement. It is emphasized that cooperation is essential for public health awareness, rather than punitive action. Officials at the Marietta/Belpre Health Department emphasized the importance of honesty in sharing information and assured the public of a judgement-free environment with complete confidentiality. Barbara Bradley, the health department administrator, highlighted the need for transparency, stating that not only the clients but also their relatives and individuals who had sexual encounters with them are at risk due to the 'risky business.' Leccesse was arrested on May 13 for soliciting sex on Market Street, during which authorities discovered her HIV-positive status and her knowledge of it for over two years. Subsequently, she was indicted for solicitation post a positive HIV diagnosis, classified as a third-degree felony.
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