1st Navy Court-Martial of Kind : He Never Told of AIDS Virus, Woman Testifies

SAN FRANCISCO â€”  A woman testifying against a petty officer in the first Navy court-martial of its kind said Monday that she was “just shockedâ€� to find out he had sex with her without telling her he knew he carried the AIDS virus.

Petty Officer 2nd Class John Crawford, 27, of Magnolia, Ark., went on trial for assault in a military court on Treasure Island just two days before the Army planned to resume court-martial proceedings against a private on similar charges at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz.

Crawford is accused by the Navy of having had unprotected sex with Jeannine Elmer, 28, without telling her that he had tested positive for the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome. He shows no symptoms of the fatal disease.

Faces 10 Years in Brig

The AIDS-related assault case is the first of its type ever tried in a Navy court. If Crawford is convicted, he could be stripped of rank and privileges, dishonorably discharged and sentenced to up to 10 years in the brig.

The Army had a similar AIDS case that was settled in Texas in December with a plea bargain, according to Senior Chief Bob Rainville, a Treasure Island spokesman.

Elmer has tested negative for the virus, said Capt. Samuel William Berg, a diseases specialist for the Navy in San Diego. Berg testified that Elmer would have certainly been exposed if she had sex with a man who tested positive but she may not have been infected.

However, once infected, the chances of developing AIDS are 40% to 60%, he said.

Told by a Friend

Elmer said she was distressed when she was told by a friend, Yolande LaMagdeleine, that Crawford had tested positive for the antibody to the human immuno-deficiency virus, or HIV. It was not disclosed how LaMagdeleine knew.

Elmer was living with LaMagdeleine, whose Navy husband was on duty at another base.

“When she told me the news I went blank,� Elmer said. “I just couldn’t believe it. (I was) just shocked.�

Elmer, who is seeking divorce from her third husband, said the revelation made her afraid that her children might catch the disease.

Crawford, who appeared calm while taking notes during the woman’s testimony, has denied all the charges. He claims that he wore a condom during sex and that the woman knew he was HIV positive.

Revenge Alleged

He accused Elmer of making up the claims to get even with him for breaking up with her.

Crawford is one of more than 3,300 military personnel known to carry the HIV virus. He said he was surprised by the results of the test because he is not in any of the known high-risk AIDS groups--homosexuals, intravenous drug users or hemophiliacs.

Crawford said he and Elmer had been dating for several months and had discussed marriage. It was not until they broke up, he claims, that she decided to press charges.

In the Army case in Arizona, Pfc. Adrian G. Morris Jr., 28, of Caseyville, Ill., is accused of having unprotected sex with three soldiers--his fiance, a married woman and a male soldier--while knowingly carrying the AIDS virus. Morris is charged with disgracing the Army, aggravated assault and sodomy. The charges were filed in March, 1987.