An Arkansas man confessed in court that he intentionally infected himself with HIV so that he could expose the virus to other people, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported.

During his sentencing, a bewildered judge asked 25-year-old Stephen Koch, of Scranton, whether the mind-boggling admission was really true.

“Just so I can get my brain around this, did I understand the state correctly,” Circuit Judge Robin Green asked, according to the Gazette. “Mr. Koch intentionally contracted the HIV virus so he could then infect others?”

“Yes,” Koch replied, adding that the actions were “self destructive.”

Authorities had originally arrested Koch on drug charges involving methamphetamine, when a confidential informant reportedly told them that the man was viewing child porn, according to KNWA.

Court documents obtained by the station show Benton County prosecutors had searched through the man’s computer for child pornography when they discovered he had intentionally infected himself with the virus.

The chief deputy prosecutor in the case, Stuart Cearley, told the court that Koch had in fact made plans for a double date in which he would deceive the parties about his HIV status.

After pleading guilty to exposing another person to HIV, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, and eight counts of viewing or distributing child pornography, Koch received a sentence of 50 years in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and successfully complete a sex offender treatment program while imprisoned.

[Feature photo: Benton County Jail]