Tech Pleads Guilty in NH in Hepatitis C Outbreak

(NECN: Scot Yount, Concord, NH) - A guilty plea is now official in from a traveling medical technician who infected dozens of patients with Hepatitis C at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire.

At 34-years-old, David Kwiatkowski won't get out prison until in his mid-60s, or longer.

The former medical technician who suffers from Hepatitis C pleaded guilty to 16 counts that amount to him stealing a pain killer 100-times more powerful than Morphine, injecting himself and allowing the contaminated needles to be used on patients while he worked at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire.

He will spend between 30 and 40 years in jail.

"Tragically, the defendant's admission of guilt is too little too late," said New Hampshire U.S. Attorney John Kacavas.

During the court proceeding, Judge Joseph Laplante reminded Kwiatkowski, that by pleading guilty, he will become a federal felon for the rest of his life unless pardoned by the President of the United States, and "I don't think that is going to happen."

Kacavas said the investigation is far from over but wouldn't name any entities that could face charges.

"We have not reached the end of the road in his case, but as we do approach finality in his case we are also looking elsewhere," Kacavas said.

Several victims who were infected with Hepatitis C were present in the courtroom but declined to speak to reporters because of ongoing civil litigation.

"There were many warning signs, many stop signs, many red lights along that road there were simply ignored by the defendant himself, a healthcare worker, by other individuals and entities in the health care industry," Kacavas said.

Sentencing is December 3rd, 2013 at 9:30 in the morning.

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