LIBERTY TWP, Ohio - Former Liberty Local School Superintendent Joseph Nohra is denying allegations that he improperly recorded secret videos of five school employees.

 Nohra is expected in court to answer an indictment charging home with six counts of interception of wire, oral or electronic communication, which are felonies, and five counts of interfering with civil rights, which are misdemeanors.

Investigators say Nohra installed hidden cameras inside carbon monoxide detectors above five different employees' desks in April and May of 2018, then attempting to use the secret recordings of private conversations. The indictment does not specify how Nohra allegedly intended to use the recordings.

However, through his attorney David Betras, Nohra issued a statement claiming that the secret cameras were part of a theft-in-office investigation into a school employee.

According to the statement, the school board and its legal counsel knew and approved of Nohra’s investigation which led to the employee’s resignation.

“The members of the Board of Education and the Board’s legal counsel approved the initiation of an investigation as well as the use of surveillance equipment before it was installed,” said Betras in the statement. “In addition, written Board policy authorizes the superintendent to utilize surveillance equipment when necessary and with approval of the Board which, Mr. Nohra sought and received.”

The board policy specifically provides that an employee has no expectation of privacy in certain areas of school district facilities, according to Betras who added that the information obtained was used only to investigate the theft in office allegations.

“My client is both bewildered and astounded that he now faces criminal charges for taking decisive steps to protect the taxpayers and looks forward to defending himself against these ludicrous accusations,” said Betras.

21 News reached out to all Liberty Local School District board members and most of them said "no comment," However, one member, Scott Davis, said Nohra did the right thing, saving the township thousands of dollars and is confused on why Nohra is being charged.

In March of 2019, the Ohio Auditor's office conducted a raid in the Liberty school system, where they searched every building in the district.

Nohra resigned from his position with Liberty in June of 2020, saying he was looking to "achieve a better work-life balance" outside of the field of education. He had been with the district since 2017.

 If convicted, Nohra could face up to 11 and a half years in prison.