Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International; Thursday, September 25, 1997 - 12:59 PM EDT
William Calvert tracked AIDS patients for the state, and a former lover obtained a list of more than 4,000 patients' names that was in Calvert's possession and mailed it to two Tampa Bay, Fla., area newspapers.
The former lover, Gregory Wentz, is appealing his earlier conviction and 60-day jail sentence for the second-degree misdemeanor of violating the confidentiality of those whose names were on the list.
Calvert had initially pleaded not guilty because his attorneys claimed the confidentiality law was an unconstitutional violation of their client's right to freedom of speech.
But Calvert changed his plea Wednesday _ less than a week before his trial was to begin _ becuase of a threat that Court TV would air the proceedings.
Calvert says he has lined up another job in the health profession, but the position is conditional based on his not becoming a source of embarrassment.
His attorney, Lee Fugate, says, "We could try this case and win an acquittal and still, because of the publicity, (Calvert) would be stigmatized."
Calvert will continue his legal battle in an appeals court. Fugate plans to challenge an earlier ruling that the confidentiality law is constitutional.
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