A 32-year-old man has been charged with intentionally exposing at least 17 women to the AIDS virus after he ignored an order from health officials to stop having unprotected sex.

Four of the women have tested positive for HIV.

Anthony E. Whitfield faced 17 counts of first-degree assault with sexual motivation as well as charges of witness-tampering and violating no-contact orders involving two of the women.

If convicted on all counts, he could face a 180-year prison sentence.

Whitfield was going to plead not guilty to all the charges, his attorney said before a scheduled court appearance Thursday.

After a sexual partner of Whitfield was diagnosed with AIDS, local health officials told him to refrain from unprotected sex and inform previous partners that he carried the HIV virus.

Authorities say he ignored that directive and a subsequent order, after which police became involved.