Prison for HIV-positive LI man on sex abuse charges

The young man said he trusted Robert Musmacker so much that he introduced his friends to the Oceanside man. He said he didn't know Musmacker was infected with the virus that causes AIDS when he had sex with him.

The man, the sole victim who spoke Wednesday at Musmacker's sentencing in Suffolk County Court, said he found out from news reports after Musmacker's December 2008 arrest on sex abuse charges that the former independent newspaper delivery depot employee was HIV positive.

Musmacker, 38, was sentenced by County Court Judge Barbara Kahn to 14 years in prison after he admitted last month that he had unprotected sex with nine boys and men between the ages of 16 and 20.

"He messed me up," said the victim, who is not being identified by Newsday because he is a victim of a sex crime. The man was 16 when he had sex with Musmacker, Assistant District Attorney Laurie Moroff told reporters.

"I trusted him," the man said in court. "Why would he do that to us?"

He added that he believes Musmacker's sentence is not long enough. "I think he's going to strike again," he said.

The victim declined to speak to reporters outside court.

Musmacker pleaded guilty in June to a 25-count indictment charging him with first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child.

At his guilty plea, Musmacker said he had known since 2005 he was HIV positive, but did not tell his victims he had the virus. Prosecutors have said they don't believe Musmacker infected his victims.

Musmacker declined to speak in court Wednesday.

Moroff said Musmacker plied his victims with alcohol, marijuana and gifts such as cell phones to have sex with them.

"These were boys who had nothing," she said. "They live in fear of being exposed to a disease for which there is no known cure."

After the sentencing, Musmacker's mother, Angelina, wept outside the courtroom. She shouted at the victim who had spoken in court as he walked down the hall with prosecutors and court officers.

"The moocher lied," Angelina Musmacker told reporters as she left the courthouse, referring to the victim. She did not elaborate.

Before pronouncing the sentence, Kahn refused to allow Musmacker to withdraw his guilty pleas. She said Musmacker had written a letter to her saying he had pleaded guilty after he had been "threatened and coerced" by Moroff.

In addition to the prison term, Kahn sentenced Musmacker to 15 years of post-release supervision.