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Man accused of intentionally spreading HIV faces judge

A man who entered a not guilty plea to knowingly infecting another man with HIV is in court Tuesday.

SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A San Diego man accused of knowingly infecting his former partner with HIV made his first appearance in court Tuesday.

Thomas Guerra, 29, showed no emotion as he answered to one count of intentionally exposing another man -- named as Charles E. -- to HIV. 

Guerra, who also goes by the name Ashton Chavez, faces six months in jail for the misdemeanor charge. But the city attorney's office says there could be more victims, which may be grounds for felony charges to be prosecuted by the district attorney's office.

Guerra's ex-boyfriend has also filed a police report, but hasn't been named in the case. He told CBS News 8 last week there are at least two-dozen potential victims, and possibly up to 1,000. 

Investigators accuse Guerra of meeting men online -- specifically the dating app Grindr -- which the judge Tuesday ordered him to stay away from.

Guerra's attorney said in court there is no proof his client has been on dating sites, but his ex-boyfriend sent CBS News 8 a screen grab Tuesday that purportedly shows he has been active almost daily since his arrest.

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