Doctor charged with jury interference in David Bisard trial

An Allen County doctor has been charged with interference with jury service after authorities say he fired an employee who was forced to miss work because he was a juror in the David Bisard trial.

William P. Hedrick, 52, was charged Monday.

Fort Wayne resident Chriss Lynn Keaton served as an alternate juror during the high-profile trial of the former Indianapolis police officer and reached out to authorities about his firing.

Keaton worked at Inquest Health Systems, which Hedrick owns, according to a probable cause affidavit. Keaton told his employer that he could be a juror for up to several weeks.

On Oct. 24, the affidavit says, he received an email from Hedrick’s assistant that stated, “Hello Chriss, wow ... 2-3 more weeks! That’s insane ... hope it’s interesting.”

The email went on to say that someone had been hired to do his job during the trial, the affidavit says.

The next day, the affidavit says, Keaton received an email saying Hedrick was “eliminating his employment due to volume.”

A message left Wednesday with the Allen County prosecutor’s office received no response. Keaton also could not be reached.

A call to a number listed for Inquest Health Systems said that the voice mailbox was full.

The charge against Hedrick is a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

An Allen County jury on Nov. 5 found Bisard guilty of nine counts of drunken driving, reckless homicide and criminal recklessness in an Aug. 6, 2010, crash that killed a motorcyclist and seriously injured two others.

The trial of the former Indianapolis police officer was moved to Allen County because of extensive pretrial publicity in Central Indiana.

He was sentenced Nov. 26 to 16 years in prison, with three years suspended. With probation and time off for good behavior, Bisard could be released in 6½ years.

Call Star reporter Michael Boren at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @borenmc.