Charlie Sheen: from legal woes to a criminal prosecution in California?

He's reportedly spent some €7m keeping his HIV positive status a secret, but Charlie Sheen may now be facing yet more financial – and indeed, legal – woes. 

The 50-year-old Hollywood star has been married three times and is resident in California. There, it is a crime for someone to have unprotected sex when that person knows he or she is infected with a "communicable disease" (such as HIV). 

If convicted, he'd face six months in jail. And if it was proven in court that he knowingly had sex with another person with the specific intent of transmitting the disease, then he could be looking at eight years in prison. 

Of course, Charlie has not specifically said if he's had unprotected sex or not. However, he's already settled several cases with people who were involved with the actor and who were unaware of his HIV status.

One settlement is said to have occurred as recently as last month.

Police sources have told TMZ that as of yet, no one has come forward yet complaining Mr Sheen exposed them to the virus.

The actor is father to five children by three different women: Cassandra, 30, with ex-girlfriend Paula Profit; Sam, 11, and Lola, 10, with ex-wife Denise Richards; and twins Bob and Max, 6, with ex-wife Brooke Mueller.

He was fired from Two And A Half Men last year after going on repeated drug and alcohol benders. Charlie then went on to have a very public breakdown, giving a semi-incoherent, now-infamous interview to ABC’s 20/20.

Today, Mail Online is reporting an exclusive which details Mr Sheen's many personal troubles.

Saying he has become a "recluse in his own home," the website adds that the actor is addicted to crack cocaine, which he would smoke while repeatedly watching his old movies.

Mail Online adds that both male and female porn stars were paid anything from €23,000 to €32,000 a night each to "hang out with him" at his upmarket home. He is said to have had sexual relations with numerous men and women working in the adult entertainment industry.

Radar Online says Mr Sheen has been HIV positive for four years, with The National ENQUIRER breaking the details of his cover-up yesterday.