Male prostitute held in HIV case

A 27-year-old man who was posing as a woman when he was arrested by Denver police during a prostitution sting has been charged with prostitution with knowledge of being infected with HIV or AIDS.

Darren Garcia is being held in lieu of $50,000 bond on the felony charge.

If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.

According to a police probable-cause statement, officers were running a sting Thursday night because of community complaints when an undercover officer stopped at East Colfax Avenue and Josephine Street. Garcia climbed into the officer's car and offered to perform a sex act for $30, police said.

Garcia had long hair and makeup and was wearing an Avalanche jersey, according to authorities.

He allegedly told detectives he was infected with AIDS after he was taken into custody, said Lynn Kimbrough of the Denver district attorney's office.