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Washington County officials issue public health notice about HIV-positive solicitation suspect

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MARIETTA, Ohio (WTAP) - Washington County officials are starting a campaign to contact people who may have been exposed to HIV.

Washington County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden said that law enforcement recently arrested a suspected sex worker who tested positive for HIV in 2022.

Warden said law enforcement has a list of 211 people who have had contact with the suspected sex worker since then. Starting Thursday, the sheriff's office is contacting the 211 people on this list and urge them to get tested for HIV.

Warden said the people on the list will not face any criminal charges for having contact with the suspected sex worker. "We want the citizens out there to understand that there will be a deputy sheriff reaching out to these individuals that we have numbers for," he said. "They're not in trouble. This is a public health awareness. This is not a scam."

Washington County residents who receive the call can get tested at the Marietta-Belpre Health Department.

Warden said they are seeking an indictment for solicitation after a positive HIV test for the suspected sex worker. A grand jury indictment from Wednesday lists a Linda Leccese as being charged with engaging in solicitation after a Positive HIV test.

Officials say they haven't yet determined the full extent of possible exposure to HIV, as the sex worker may have been positive for some time prior to their test.

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