MINISTER GETS 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KNOWINGLY EXPOSING WOMEN TO HIV

MINISTER CRAIG LAMAR DAVIS

Atlanta minister Craig Lamar Davis, former pastor of Full Gospel Baptist Church, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years probation on Friday for knowingly exposing women in his congregation to HIV.

Davis was found guilty in January of two counts of reckless HIV.

Davis, who was married at the time that the allegations came to light, initially denied both his HIV status and cheating on his wife. 

In a last-ditch plea for leniency during Friday’s sentencing hearing, the formerly “unrepentant” pastor said that his actions were “wrong.”

Davis had extramarital affairs with two women and did not tell either that he was HIV positive. During his trial, Davis admitted that doctors diagnosed him with HIV in 2005. 

While he admitted to having sex with a Fulton County woman, the former pastor denied a sexual encounter with his second accuser, Ronita McAfee of Clayton County.

McAfee tested negative for HIV, while the second known victim, who was allegedly celibate for 15 years before sleeping with her married pastor, tested positive.

Police are still investigating the possibility of more victims.