AIDS-Infected Sex-Crimes Suspect Rearrested

A man with AIDS who may have paid hundreds of boys and young men to have sex with him was rearrested Saturday night after two more teen-agers made allegations against him, police said.

The man, known to many as “Uncle Ed,” was back in custody Saturday evening, less than a day after he posted 10% of his $3-million bail. He was first arrested Wednesday.

Lt. James Mooney of the Sex Crimes Unit said the two latest accusers were identified Friday. They bring to four the number of teen-agers who have made allegations.

Mooney said police have identified other youths and he expects additional charges will be filed as the investigation continues.

Dist. Atty. Lynne Abraham, who Friday announced the arrest, said her office signed an agreement with Edward Savitz, 50, letting officials say he was an AIDS victim so those who had sexual contact with him could take appropriate steps.

AIDS telephone hot lines were inundated after Friday’s announcement. A police mug shot of the man was released, and a hot line operator said some callers recognized the man as someone they knew more than a decade ago as “Fast Eddie.”

One of the suspect’s lawyers on Saturday disputed allegations of dangerous sexual conduct and complained that reports of the arrest were feeding “AIDS hysteria.”

Savitz faces a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual abuse of children, indecent assault and corrupting the morals of a minor.

Abraham said she chose not to charge the suspect with attempted homicide, as prosecutors elsewhere have when individuals who knew they had AIDS failed to inform their sex partners. She said prosecutors couldn’t prove the man intended to kill people he had sex with.