Appeal Denied for Convicted HIV+ Rapist

Today the Court of Appeals had no pity for convicted rapist Mark Cardenas. He is serving an 18 year sentence for raping a 19 year old female in June of 2006. His 18 year sentence is 6 more than the maximum of 12 years because at sentencing his attorney Ernest Staine told the court that Cardenas had HIV and he knew at the time of the rape. That’s why Justice Michelle Arana sentenced him to 18 years. Today Cardenas told the appeal judges that he was given an unfair sentence but his HIV status was revealed. The appeal judges dismissed his appeal.

His victim was staying with him at the time of the rape. He had expressed interest in her but she rejected him. On June 23rd of 2006 he forced himself into her room and raped her.