NORWICH – A federally-convicted sex offender was back in Chenango County Court Monday, and was granted his request to have a new attorney assigned to the case.

Dean M. Sacco, 48, 148 Randolph St., Jersey City, N.J., faces charges in Chenango County including three counts of first degree rape (a class B violent felony) and three counts of second degree rape (a class D felony) for allegedly committing criminal sexual acts and first-degree course of sexual conduct.

Sacco, along with Norwich resident Linda O’Connor, 46, was recently convicted of sex trafficking and producing child pornography in a U.S District Court in Binghamton. The pair was first arrested in Norwich following an investigation into a situation where authorities were led to believe O’Connor had offered a young girl’s sexual favors to Sacco in exchange for the “back rent” she owed to him.

Sacco and his defense attorney Scott Clippinger requested a new attorney be assigned to the case Monday. “I feel further communication could be detrimental to the case,” said Clippinger.

District Attorney Joseph McBride told Judge Kevin Dowd he felt the attorney had represented his client well and did not see a reason for the change. A letter written by Sacco was then handed to the judge.