The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld the 2006 conviction of a Moscow man who had unprotected sex with women despite his knowledge that he was HIV positive.

Kanay Mubita, 33, was found guilty on 11 counts of transferring bodily fluids that may contain the virus that causes AIDS after a number of women testified at trial that they had unprotected sex with him. He was sentenced to 44 years in prison.

In his appeal, Mubita claimed the court was wrong in denying his motion to suppress certain medical evidence and wrongfully admitted two laboratory reports concerning his HIV status. Mubita also challenged a jury instruction as a violation of his rights to due process.

However, the high court determined Mubita created a “clear and immediate danger to public health”, and his records were subject to release during the criminal investigation since he voluntarily provided the information to the Idaho Department of Health.

The court agreed the lower court made an error by admitting two lab reports at trial, but the higher court ruled that even without the reports, other evidence presented at trial still would have resulted in conviction.

The high court also concluded that the jury instruction was a question of law that was not violated.

A Moscow Police Officer, four Latah County Sheriff’s deputies and a Boise Police officer received the Idaho Medal of Honor during Friday’s annual Idaho Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony in Meridian.

The event pays tribute to Idaho law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and recognizes officers who distinguished themselves with exceptional conduct.

Special recognition this year went to Lee Newbill of the Moscow Police Department, who was killed May 19, 2007, during a shootout at the Latah County Sheriff’s office. Newbill is the 64th officer whose name has been added to the memorial.

Moscow Police officer Jesse Applehans and Latah County Sheriff’s deputies Phil Grey, Brannon Jordan, Ryan Sillers and Jay Waters received the Medal of Honor for their work during the shooting which left Newbill dead and Jordan wounded.

Boise Police officer Brek Orton also received the Idaho Medal of Honor for saving the life of a 58-year-old woman who was pinned under a tree in the Boise River last summer.

Keynote speakers at this years memorial service were Moscow Police Chief Dan Weaver and Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch.

More information at www.idahopeaceofficersmemorial.com/index.html

(Photos courtesy Rick Ohnsman, Idaho State Police)

University of Idaho President Tim White may be headed to a new position in California.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that the University of California regents are expected to announce the name of UC-Riverside’s new chancellor Thursday morning, and government sources said the new chancellor could come from Idaho.

White had informed the Idaho Board of Regents and senior university leadership that he had been approached by another institution, but has not disclosed that institution’s name. White has been president of the Moscow school since August 2004 after previously serving in several leadership positions at Oregon State University.

UCR’s previous chancellor left in June to become president of Purdue University.