WARREN, Ohio - When former Liberty Local School Superintendent Joseph Nohra goes on trial next month in Trumbull Couty, the case will be heard by a judge and not a jury.

Nohra, who is accused of improperly recording secret videos of five school employees, has waived his right to a jury trial and instead will have the case decided by Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald Rice.  The trial is scheduled to begin on January 3.

Nohra was indicted on 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 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.