NORWICH –  A man charged with multiple sex crimes against an underage girl has waived his rights to a jury trial, choosing instead to present his case before a judge.

County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan is considering a written request by Dean M. Sacco to have his trial held before the judge. Sacco will appear in court Monday and must personally sign the request in front of the court before it can be approved.

The case would then proceed similarly to a jury trial and at its conclusion, the judge would decide the final verdict.

“Mr. Sacco needs to be removed from our community and needs go to prison for a long time,” said District Attorney Joseph McBride at Sacco’s last appearance.

Sacco was a Norwich landlord accused in March 2007 of repeatedly extorting sexual favors from a 12-year-old girl.

In court, officials said the child lived downstairs from Sacco in an adjacent apartment. The child was allegedly forced into performing sexual favors in exchange for reductions in the cost of rent. Police also arrested the mother for not properly monitoring her daughter and charged her with endangering the welfare of a child.