January 14, 2000

DPS Investigates AIDS Virus Sex Case

Marvin Clifford Nowell
1997	1999	1999

Houston DPS Special Crimes investigators are seeking information about the activities of an HIV-positive registered sex offender suspected of having unprotected sex with women he met over the Internet.

"We are concerned there are potential victims who are not aware of the situation at this point," said DPS Special Crimes Sgt. George Rhyne. "We know of one possible victim in Houston and as many as five in Kentucky."

Marvin Clifford Nowell, 36, of Houston was arrested Jan. 11 by the U.S. Marshals Service in LaGrange, Kentucky and is awaiting extradition to Texas. He is being held on a Texas arrest warrant issued for alleged parole violations relating to his sex offender status.

Authorities suspect he used the Internet to contact one Texas woman and five Kentucky women, possibly exposing them to the HIV virus through sexual contact.

"We are urging anyone who has more information about Nowell's activities to contact us," said Rhyne. "He has lived in the Houston area for the last several years and we believe he has traveled frequently to the Dallas area."

Anyone with information about Marvin Clifford Nowell is urged to contact Sgt. Rhyne at the Houston DPS Special Crimes office at 713-957-6179. The suspect's picture can be accessed from the DPS Web site, www.txdps.state.tx.us.

When he returns to Texas, Nowell could face various charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Harris County District Attorney's Office is handling the case.