Houston Janitor Sentenced for Infecting Coworkers with STDs by Contaminating Water

Lucio Catarino Diaz received a six-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for urinating in water bottles and a communal cooler at a medical office.

Lucio Catarino Diaz confessed to urinating in water bottles and a communal cooler over an eight-month period, infecting coworkers with sexually transmitted diseases, including herpes simplex virus type 1.
Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as part of a plea deal, resulting in a six-year prison sentence, with eligibility for parole after three years.
The District Attorney classified Diaz's urine as a 'deadly weapon' due to its potential to cause serious bodily harm through the transmission of incurable diseases.
The crimes were discovered after employees noticed foul smells and tastes in their water, leading one to set up a hidden camera that captured Diaz in the act, prompting his arrest in October 2022.
Victims have filed civil lawsuits against Diaz and his employer, seeking over $1 million in damages, with cases still active as of March 2025.