Former IT director enters Alford plea in wiretapping case

Former Bingham Memorial Hospital IT Director Jack York changed his plea in a wiretapping case.

He entered an Alford plea one count of interception of wire, electronic, or oral communication, a felony. An Alford plea means he maintains his innocence, but will not fight the charges.

York made the move as part of a plea deal. The two other wiretapping charges were dropped.

He is accused of setting up devices to record phone calls in a doctor’s office in 2009 and 2010.

York said in court he didn’t know what he did was a crime.

His attorney, Ann Taylor, said York didn’t do any wiretapping himself, but says he did direct his employees to. She says he was in a “situation where he would lose his job” if he didn’t.

York’s former boss, hospital CEO Louis Kraml, originally faced two felony charges of wiretapping. Those were reduced to a misdemeanor charge of stalking in the second degree as part of a plea deal, and Kraml was sentenced to 100 hours of community service in August of last year.

York could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He faces sentencing in November.