Smith gets jail in HIV sex case

Ex-Roughrider sentenced to six years: `I just want to say sorry for everything'

Source: Toronto Star

Feb 27, 2007 04:30 AM

REGINA–An apology to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, his children, his wife and his lovers wasn't enough to spare an HIV-positive former Canadian Football League linebacker a prison term for aggravated sexual assault.

Trevis Smith was sentenced yesterday to 5 1/2 years behind bars for knowingly exposing two women to the virus that causes AIDS by having unprotected sex with them and not revealing his condition.

Provincial court Judge Kenn Bellerose added another six months to the sentence for two bail violations Smith pleaded guilty to earlier in the day, making the sentence an even six years.

"For this, I apologize to this province and to the team that I represented the last seven years," Smith said from the prisoner's box in a barely audible voice before Bellerose made his ruling.

"I also want to apologize to the women that I've been involved with during this time and my wife for my actions and I ask that she'd forgive me for me committing adultery.

"I just want to say sorry for everything."

But Bellerose didn't waver.

"As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Smith was very deceitful and very dishonest," he said.

"I'm satisfied he displayed, throughout this whole time – from when he learned he had HIV in November of 2003 until the time of his arrest in October 2005 – a very indifferent attitude with respect to the expectations that the law required on his part to basically come clean with respect to his sexual partners."

Smith showed no reaction as the judge ruled. His wife, who had stood behind her husband throughout the entire trial and could be heard crying as he apologized, left court without talking to reporters.

His lawyer, Clemente Monterosso, also refused comment. An appeal of the conviction has already been filed.

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