TORONTO - Justus Patrick Zela came from a small Ontario town and worked the streets of the big smoke.

Then he got himself off the streets and helped other young men stop hustling. His life and work was highlighted on the CBC Radio documentary Boys' Town.

Now, Zela, also known as Dharma, Organic Farmer Guy and Farmer Guy, was released on bail Thursday after being charged with aggravated sexual assault for allegedly not telling a sexual partner he's been HIV-positive since 2003.

Hamilton Police sexual assault branch Det. Duncan McCulloch is urging anyone who had relations with Zela, who lived in Toronto until 2008, to get checked to determine if they had been exposed.

The man who filed the complaint with police has so far not shown signs he was exposed, McCulloch said.

The victim found out about the suspect's condition by "checking some websites and finding additional information about Justus," he said.

McCulloch stressed anyone who had intimate contact with the suspect to undergo medical tests.

"Go to a doctor. Let me make that absolutely clear," he said. "Get yourself checked first and if they want to make a complaint, I'll certainly be the fellow to do whatever it needs to do the investigation.

"If it's outside my jurisdiction, I'll get them to who they need to be," he said.

McCulloch can be reached at 905-540-5543.

"I believe it to be very serious," McCulloch said. "Anyone who may have had intimate contact with Justus could have been exposed to HIV and may not know it."

Police said Zela was arrested Monday in Tatmagouche, N.S., and was returned to Hamilton where he was charged with aggravated sexual assault and was released on bail Thursday.

One of his conditions is to notify sexual partners of his condition prior to any sexual contact, McCulloch said.

ROB.CLAMBERTI@SUNMEDIA.CA