NORWICH – The county’s top prosecutor has removed himself from the case against a Norwich City School District employee to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

According to First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee, Chenango County District Attorney Joseph A. McBride has recused himself from the case against Jonathan L. Aikins. Aikins was arrested Thursday and charged with second degree unlawful surveillance, a Class E felony, after an audio/visual recording device was discovered in a Norwich High School locker room.

McBride, who has held the office of district attorney since 1999, was elected to the Norwich board of education on May 17 and will commence his three-year term on the board July 1.

Dunshee will be handling the Aikins case in McBride’s stead.

According to Norwich Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan, the 28-year old Norwich man was employed by the school district for a little over three years as a teaching assistant and swim coach, and was recently granted tenure.

“He is no longer working for the district in any capacity,” he assured.

O’Sullivan said he was attending a BOCES meeting last Thursday when he received a phone call from Norwich High School Assistant Principal Scott Ryan.

“Five students discovered a cell phone in the locker room and they immediately brought it to (the principal’s office),” he explained.

O’Sullivan said he headed back to the school immediately, phoning the Norwich City Police on the way.