News

Actions

Man pleads guilty to having sex with woman without disclosing HIV status

Police say there could be more victims
Gavel 900 506.jpg
Posted at 4:54 PM, Oct 12, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-12 22:17:30-04

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nashville native 41- year-old Danny Perry allegedly had sex with multiple women and none of them knew he had HIV.

Officials say the women are not only from Tennessee but other Southern states as well. Police say they will pursue more charges against Perry if more women come forward.

One of his victims and HIV awareness advocate, Marvelyn Brown, gave a witness testimony against Perry in court on September 30. She said it was the hardest day of her life, even harder than the day she found out she had HIV back in 2003.

"I got to look him in the eye and I got to tell him yes I have to take seven pills every day of my life, but he did not stop me and I'm not ashamed of who I am and what I have," said Brown.

In 2008, Brown wrote a best-selling book called "The Naked Truth."

In it she refers to the man who infected her as "Prince Charming," who we now know is Perry.

"To give a witness testimony 17 years after my diagnosis brought back a lot of emotion," said Brown, "I was a victim, but now I'm a victor and I got my victory in court and I really hope these other women can too."

Perry was active in Nashville softball rec leagues for years. Brown said she met him when he was a coach.

Prosecutors accused Perry, who was married at the time, of infecting a softball league friend. That friend said Perry never told her he had HIV, and when she called him about testing positive in 2016, as he did with Brown, he acted surprised even though he'd been receiving medical treatment for years.

"I want people to understand that only one count was brought against him," said Brown. "One count of HIV exposure and it was not me because I'm out of the statute of limitation."

Private messages from Perry's Facebook account brought to light during court, revealed he had sex with as many as 19 women in the last two years. He was recently living in Carthage, Tennessee.

Perry pleaded guilty to charges of assault and criminal exposure of another to HIV and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Anyone who would like to come forward can call the Metro Police sex crimes unit at 615-862-7540. You can remain anonymous.