A former respiratory therapist at ProMedica Bay Park Hospital was found guilty Thursday of accessing confidential patient records.

A jury in U.S. District Court returned the verdict against Jamie Knapp, 26, of Adrian on a misdemeanor count of obtaining individually identifiable health information.

Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that Ms. Knapp accessed electronic medical records between May, 2013, and March, 2014. The various health information included names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and prescriptions. Nearly 600 patients were affected.

Ms. Knapp faces a maximum sentence of a year in prison for a violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Prosecutors said Ms. Knapp looked at the records to determine who was prescribed pain medication in an attempt to take the pills.

Noah Hood, an assistant U.S. attorney, said during his closing argument Ms. Knapp accessed the information for no legitimate work purpose.

He said Ms. Knapp came to work three hours early April 1, 2014, and logged into a hospital computer. She was seen with a sharps container, a locked box that holds used needles and medication vials, he said.

She returned for her shift, and a search found a large needle and tourniquet in her pockets, prosecutors said.

Defense attorney David Goldstein said Ms. Knapp was trained in using the computer and aware her log-in left a record.

Ms. Knapp told officials she looked at the records to improve herself professionally, he said.

A jury of six men and six women deliberated for about two hours before reaching a verdict. 

Ms. Knapp declined an interview after the hearing.

Magistrate Judge James Knepp presided over the jury trial. No sentencing date has been set.

Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.

First Published June 24, 2016, 4:00 a.m.