MAULDIN, SC – Authorities have charged a Mauldin man with multiple felonies after he allegedly admitted to knowingly exposing a pregnant woman to HIV without informing her of his status, police said.

Christopher Miller, 30, was arrested July 12 following an incident at his apartment complex, police said. Officers responded to reports of a disturbance and, upon arrival, say Miller initially provided a false name in an alleged attempt to conceal outstanding arrest warrants. Further investigation revealed that Miller is accused of failing to disclose his HIV status to a woman with whom he was in a relationship. According to law enforcement, the woman is now seven months pregnant with Miller’s child.

During questioning, Miller allegedly told police he was aware of his positive HIV status prior to engaging in a sexual relationship with the woman. However, he reportedly admitted to not sharing this information, stating he did not want her to know. As a result of their ongoing investigation, police charged Miller with unlawful exposure of others to HIV and financial identity fraud.

South Carolina law considers it a felony for anyone who knows they are HIV positive to engage in sexual activity without first informing their partner. This offense carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, even if transmission does not occur and there was no intention to transmit the virus.

The arrest highlights ongoing legal and public health challenges involving disclosure of HIV status. State records indicate several prosecutions in South Carolina in recent years involving individuals accused of failing to alert partners to their HIV positive diagnoses. In one notable 2009 case, a man who bit a neighbor while being HIV positive faced a serious assault charge, though the court eventually dropped it following legal advocacy.

Miller was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center after his arrest. As of Monday, he remained in custody, held on a combined $60,000 cash or surety bond, according to online jail records.

The woman involved is expected to deliver Miller’s child within the next two months, police said. Authorities have not released her identity, citing privacy concerns.

Unlawful exposure charges such as those facing Miller are meant to serve both public safety and deterrent functions, say legal analysts. Health experts maintain that open communication regarding HIV status is a critical component in preventing transmission.

South Carolina statutes on HIV disclosure do not require proof of transmission or intent to transmit in order for charges to be filed. In similar cases, the law has been used to prosecute exposures occurring through various forms of sexual contact or, more rarely, through physical altercations.

Court proceedings for Miller will likely unfold in the coming weeks. If convicted, he could face substantial prison time in addition to fines, as proscribed by state law.