Former Liberty superintendent free on bond

WARREN, Ohio - Former Liberty Local School Superintendent Joseph Nohra has pleaded not guilty to charges from an indictment alleging that he improperly recorded secret videos of five school employees.
Nohra appeared in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to answer 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.
Nohra did not make any comment to members of the media during his hearing. However, through his attorney David Betras, Nohra issued a statement on Tuesday 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.
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.
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.
Nohra is free on bond. He is scheduled for another court hearing on June 24.
If convicted, Nohra could face up to 11 and a half years in prison.