HIV (&Hepatitis C)-positive prisoner charged with assault for spitting at another inmate

January 11, 2009

http://www.citizensvoice.com/articles/2009/01/10/news/police/wb_voice.20090110.t\

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HIV-positive prisoner charged with assault for spitting at another inmate

BY JOSH MROZINSKI

STAFF WRITER

Published: Saturday, January 10, 2009 10:31 AM EST

TUNKHANNOCK — A Wyoming County inmate infected with hepatitis C and HIV was

charged Friday with several counts of assault for spitting on another inmate

last month.

Crystal Visnesky, 34, is charged with aggravated assault, assault by prisoner,

aggravated harassment by prisoner, simple assault, recklessly endangering

another person and disorderly conduct.

Awaiting sentencing on Wednesday for a simple assault, Visnesky was being held

at the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. The sentencing was postponed after

Visnesky spit in the face of another inmate on Dec. 16.

According to the criminal complaint, jail Warden Mickey Ameigh contacted borough

police on Dec. 16 to report the spitting incident.

The warden told police that Visnesky had advised the facility’s nurse she was

infected with hepatitis C and HIV. The incident occurred while the inmates were

in the gym, according to the criminal complaint.

An analysis of Visnesky’s blood on Dec. 24 tested positive for HIV and hepatitis

C.

The other inmate, who is no longer incarcerated, told police Tuesday that

Visnesky spit in her face.

Visnesky denied spitting in the woman’s face, according to the criminal

complaint.

The criminal complaint alleges Visnesky put the other woman in serious bodily

injury under “circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of

human life.”

The charges were filed Friday in the office of Magisterial District Judge Carl

.

Visnesky faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years in state prison,

Wyoming County District Attorney Skumanick said.

jmronzinski@...

January 11, 2009