Exeter Hospital 'Serial Infector': 'I'm Guilty'

David Kwiatkowski, the former medical technician charged with spreading his hepatitis C to 32 Exeter Hospital patients, pleaded guilty to a host of charges in federal court Wednesday morning.

Prosecutors said Kwiatkowski, who has hepatitis C, shot himself up with patients' medication to get high. He then replaced syringes with saline to make them appear untouched. Those tainted syringes were then used on unsuspecting patients.

"I'm guilty," Kwiatkowski, 34, told Judge Joseph Laplante in U.S. District Court in Concord.

One of the 32 victims also spread the strain of hepatitis C to another person through sexual contact, prosecutors said.

Hepatitis C is a potentially deadly liver disease.

Kwiatkowski on Wednesday agreed to a plea deal where he pleaded guilty seven counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud and seven counts of tampering with a consumer product. He also agreed to possibly pay restitution to the victims.

The deal included a prison sentence of 30 to 40 years, but Laplante said he didn't agree with that stipulation. If the judge changes the agreed-upon sentence, Kwiatkowski has the right to take back his guilty plea.

Kwiatkowski, who grew up in Michigan, was a "traveler," a medical technician who worked at hospitals across the country. In addition to the Exeter victims, authorities said he likely infected dozens more patients.

Kwiatkowski's plea deal also includes a promise that he will not be charged with more crimes related to the outbreak in other states.

U.S. Attorney John Kacavas called Kwiatkowski a "serial infector."

Kwiatkowski's sentencing was set for December 3. He will be jailed until that date.

Kwiatkowski said little in court Wednesday. He told the judge he has a history of addiction to opiates, cocaine, and alcohol. He also said he suffers from depression and has been taking lithium to deal with it.

Read court documents laying out the case against Kwiatkowski.