A Texas janitor, Lucio Catarino Diaz, has been sentenced to six years in prison after he admitted to peeing in his coworkers’ drinking water, leading to the infection of several employees with sexually transmitted diseases.
Diaz, 53, pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with prosecutors dismissing additional charges related to his actions.
Diaz’s disturbing behaviour was uncovered in September 2022 at a medical office in Houston. A concerned employee began noticing a strange taste and smell in the water from a communal dispenser.
She soon discovered that her personal water bottle, which she brought from home, also had a foul odor.
Upon further investigation and the installation of a hidden camera, the employee caught Diaz on video urinating in her water bottle. The footage showed him placing his penis in the bottle, contaminating it with urine.
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The employee’s testing revealed that she contracted Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) after drinking the contaminated water.
Diaz, who was also tested, was found to be positive for HSV-1 as well as chlamydia. Several other women in the office later tested positive for STDs.
Diaz’s urine was classified as a “deadly weapon” by the District Attorney’s office due to the health risks posed by the infections.
Diaz was arrested and charged for his actions, which caused significant harm and distress to his coworkers. The case has led to multiple civil suits, and Diaz will serve six years in prison.
He was credited with two years of time served. His lawyer has not responded to requests for comment.
