I-Team: Employees At Grafton Company Face Felony Wiretapping Charges
BOSTON (CBS) - Three employees at Wyman-Gordon in Grafton are facing felony wiretapping charges for setting up a hidden camera with audio inside their workplace.
As the I-Team first reported in November, the hidden camera allegedly captured former Wyman-Gordon employee Mark Ferguson sleeping on the job. The company fired Ferguson last April.
However, prior to his termination, Ferguson had discovered the hidden camera in his work space and taken it home for a closer look.
A clip he provided to the I-Team revealed the HR employees setting up the camera. They could also be heard discussing the camera placement.
Ferguson realized if they recorded audio without his consent, it could be a violation of Massachusetts wiretapping statute. He brought the camera to the Grafton Police Department, which launched an investigation.
Following a hearing on January 14, a clerk magistrate determined there was enough probable cause to move forward with the criminal charges.
Matthew Domenico, Brian Gaudette and Eric Smith will be arraigned in Worcester County on February 24.
According to court documents the I-Team obtained, Smith and Gaudette placed the hidden camera at the request of their supervisor, Domenico.
The camera was examined by a forensic technician at the New England States Police Information Network, which reportedly recovered video files from the device.
Gaudette allegedly told a Grafton police officer that the cameras were placed to "evaluate the work performance" of Ferguson.
Reached Monday by phone, Ferguson expressed relief about news of the criminal charges.
"This was no accident," he said. "They knew the camera had audio. They enjoyed it. And they used it to its fullest intent."
The former employee is fighting to get his job back through the arbitration process, arguing the evidence used to fire him was gathered illegally.
Ferguson also filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the hidden camera tampered with union activity because he was planning to run for president.
Ryan Kath can be contacted at rkath@cbs.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.
