HIV-infected prostitute faces felony prosecution

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Monday, March 31, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

An HIV-infected Las Vegas woman has been arrested on a felony charge after soliciting an undercover Metro Police vice detective for sex.

Carlos Denise Cheatham, 29, allegedly negotiated a deal about 10:50 p.m. Wednesday at 10th Street and Stewart Avenue. She was the second HIV-positive woman vice detectives arrested in a two-day period on prostitution charges. Laurie Janine Smallwood was arrested Tuesday afternoon at 9th Street and Mesquite Avenue.

Cheatham was notified by police of her deadly health status in 1990 after a November misdemeanor prostitution arrest and mandatory blood test showed her positive for HIV. She was warned then that any future prostitution arrest would warrant a felony charge, police said.

A total of 232 prostitutes have been identified by Metro Police as HIV positive.