NORWICH – A man recently accused of causing the death of his 12-year-old babysitter has retained new representation.

George Ford Jr., 42, of Piscataway, N.J., was arrested for first-degree reckless endangerment following a July 8 incident that left Shyanne A. Somers, 12, South Otselic, dead.

Originally Ford was represented by the Public Defender’s Office, but has now retained the services of defense attorney Randel Scharf of Cooperstown. Sharf has grabbed local headlines in recent months for his representation of two cases returned to the District Attorney’s Office on appeal – Tammi Van Deusen and Peter M. Wlasiuk. Last month, Sharf made the motion to get the indictment against Wlasiuk dismissed and was supported by the court.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office has been continuing its investigation into the death of Somers. “We are using all means at our disposal to carry out a thorough investigation,” said Sheriff Thomas Loughren.