Topline: Investigators say the Pensacola officer failed to inform his partner of his HIV status for months before she became pregnant.
Published: March 23, 2026 8:11 am ET
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Pierce Cotton (via Pensacola Police Department Facebook)
PENSACOLA, FL — A Pensacola police officer is facing a felony charge after investigators say he failed to disclose his HIV status to a sexual partner, who later became pregnant, according to arrest records and multiple reports.
Officer Pierce Avery Cotton, 32, a patrol officer with the Pensacola Police Department, was arrested March 13 and charged under Florida Statute 384.24(2), which makes it unlawful for a person with HIV to have sex without first informing their partner, according to the Pensacola News Journal. The charge is listed as a third-degree felony, and if convicted, Cotton could face up to five years in prison, the News Journal reported.
According to the arrest report cited by the Pensacola News Journal, Cotton allegedly did not inform his new partner of his HIV status for at least four months after they began a sexual relationship and conceived a child.
Investigators said the relationship began forming in July 2025, with the couple starting to date in October 2025 and first having sex on Oct. 14, according to WALA.
The woman later discovered she was pregnant, and the couple publicly revealed the pregnancy on Facebook in February 2026, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
The situation came to light after the mother of Cotton’s first child learned about the relationship through the social media post and contacted the pregnant woman, according to the arrest report cited by the News Journal.
“Through this post, the mother of (Cotton’s) first child found out about the relationship that Cotton was having with (her),” the report said. “This eventually led to (redacted) and the other female communicating with one another. (Redacted) said that the female told her that she was concerned for (redacted) and the unborn child’s health and that (she) should get tested.”
According to WALA, the first child’s mother told the woman she had found medication in Cotton’s belongings that is prescribed for people with HIV, prompting concern about her health.
Investigators obtained screenshots of text messages between Cotton and the woman, in which she asked about his condition, according to both the Pensacola News Journal and WALA.
Cotton allegedly replied, “I’m sick. It’s under control, and that’s been proven. You can’t contract it.”
When pressed further, he added, “I’ll preface it with this then. I can’t transmit it. You don’t have it, since you’ve already been tested for it. But it is (redacted). I made sure I was safe so as to keep you from getting it. You and the baby can’t get it from me,” according to the arrest report cited by the Pensacola News Journal.
Although the report redacted the specific illness, investigators later obtained Cotton’s medical records from the Florida Department of Health, which showed he had tested positive for HIV, leading to the charge, according to the News Journal and WALA. Records indicate the positive test dated back to July 2025, WALA reported.
NorthEscambia.com cited the statute in part, stating: “It is unlawful for any person who has human immunodeficiency virus infection, when such person knows he or she is infected with this disease and when such person has been informed that he or she may communicate this disease to another person through sexual intercourse, to have sexual intercourse with any other person, unless such other person has been informed of the presence of the sexually transmissible disease and has consented to the sexual intercourse.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Florida Police Officer Accused of Hiding HIV Status From Pregnant Partner
Investigators say the Pensacola officer failed to inform his partner of his HIV status for months before she became pregnant.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 23, 2026 8:11 am ET
Pierce Cotton (via Pensacola Police Department Facebook)
PENSACOLA, FL — A Pensacola police officer is facing a felony charge after investigators say he failed to disclose his HIV status to a sexual partner, who later became pregnant, according to arrest records and multiple reports.
Officer Pierce Avery Cotton, 32, a patrol officer with the Pensacola Police Department, was arrested March 13 and charged under Florida Statute 384.24(2), which makes it unlawful for a person with HIV to have sex without first informing their partner, according to the Pensacola News Journal. The charge is listed as a third-degree felony, and if convicted, Cotton could face up to five years in prison, the News Journal reported.
According to the arrest report cited by the Pensacola News Journal, Cotton allegedly did not inform his new partner of his HIV status for at least four months after they began a sexual relationship and conceived a child.
Investigators said the relationship began forming in July 2025, with the couple starting to date in October 2025 and first having sex on Oct. 14, according to WALA.
The woman later discovered she was pregnant, and the couple publicly revealed the pregnancy on Facebook in February 2026, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
The situation came to light after the mother of Cotton’s first child learned about the relationship through the social media post and contacted the pregnant woman, according to the arrest report cited by the News Journal.
“Through this post, the mother of (Cotton’s) first child found out about the relationship that Cotton was having with (her),” the report said. “This eventually led to (redacted) and the other female communicating with one another. (Redacted) said that the female told her that she was concerned for (redacted) and the unborn child’s health and that (she) should get tested.”
According to WALA, the first child’s mother told the woman she had found medication in Cotton’s belongings that is prescribed for people with HIV, prompting concern about her health.
Investigators obtained screenshots of text messages between Cotton and the woman, in which she asked about his condition, according to both the Pensacola News Journal and WALA.
Cotton allegedly replied, “I’m sick. It’s under control, and that’s been proven. You can’t contract it.”
When pressed further, he added, “I’ll preface it with this then. I can’t transmit it. You don’t have it, since you’ve already been tested for it. But it is (redacted). I made sure I was safe so as to keep you from getting it. You and the baby can’t get it from me,” according to the arrest report cited by the Pensacola News Journal.
Although the report redacted the specific illness, investigators later obtained Cotton’s medical records from the Florida Department of Health, which showed he had tested positive for HIV, leading to the charge, according to the News Journal and WALA. Records indicate the positive test dated back to July 2025, WALA reported.
NorthEscambia.com cited the statute in part, stating: “It is unlawful for any person who has human immunodeficiency virus infection, when such person knows he or she is infected with this disease and when such person has been informed that he or she may communicate this disease to another person through sexual intercourse, to have sexual intercourse with any other person, unless such other person has been informed of the presence of the sexually transmissible disease and has consented to the sexual intercourse.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Florida Police Officer Accused of Hiding HIV Status From Pregnant Partner
Investigators say the Pensacola officer failed to inform his partner of his HIV status for months before she became pregnant.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 23, 2026 8:11 am ET
Pierce Cotton (via Pensacola Police Department Facebook)
PENSACOLA, FL — A Pensacola police officer is facing a felony charge after investigators say he failed to disclose his HIV status to a sexual partner, who later became pregnant, according to arrest records and multiple reports.
Officer Pierce Avery Cotton, 32, a patrol officer with the Pensacola Police Department, was arrested March 13 and charged under Florida Statute 384.24(2), which makes it unlawful for a person with HIV to have sex without first informing their partner, according to the Pensacola News Journal. The charge is listed as a third-degree felony, and if convicted, Cotton could face up to five years in prison, the News Journal reported.
According to the arrest report cited by the Pensacola News Journal, Cotton allegedly did not inform his new partner of his HIV status for at least four months after they began a sexual relationship and conceived a child.
Investigators said the relationship began forming in July 2025, with the couple starting to date in October 2025 and first having sex on Oct. 14, according to WALA.
The woman later discovered she was pregnant, and the couple publicly revealed the pregnancy on Facebook in February 2026, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
The situation came to light after the mother of Cotton’s first child learned about the relationship through the social media post and contacted the pregnant woman, according to the arrest report cited by the News Journal.
“Through this post, the mother of (Cotton’s) first child found out about the relationship that Cotton was having with (her),” the report said. “This eventually led to (redacted) and the other female communicating with one another. (Redacted) said that the female told her that she was concerned for (redacted) and the unborn child’s health and that (she) should get tested.”
According to WALA, the first child’s mother told the woman she had found medication in Cotton’s belongings that is prescribed for people with HIV, prompting concern about her health.
Investigators obtained screenshots of text messages between Cotton and the woman, in which she asked about his condition, according to both the Pensacola News Journal and WALA.
Cotton allegedly replied, “I’m sick. It’s under control, and that’s been proven. You can’t contract it.”
When pressed further, he added, “I’ll preface it with this then. I can’t transmit it. You don’t have it, since you’ve already been tested for it. But it is (redacted). I made sure I was safe so as to keep you from getting it. You and the baby can’t get it from me,” according to the arrest report cited by the Pensacola News Journal.
Although the report redacted the specific illness, investigators later obtained Cotton’s medical records from the Florida Department of Health, which showed he had tested positive for HIV, leading to the charge, according to the News Journal and WALA. Records indicate the positive test dated back to July 2025, WALA reported.
NorthEscambia.com cited the statute in part, stating: “It is unlawful for any person who has human immunodeficiency virus infection, when such person knows he or she is infected with this disease and when such person has been informed that he or she may communicate this disease to another person through sexual intercourse, to have sexual intercourse with any other person, unless such other person has been informed of the presence of the sexually transmissible disease and has consented to the sexual intercourse.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
