CLEVELAND » Federal authorities say a northeast Ohio man has pleaded guilty to charges alleging he tried to buy a 10-year-old girl to engage in illegal sexual activity.

U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach in Cleveland said Wednesday that 37-year-old Robert W. Thomas Jr. pleaded guilty to enticement and receiving and distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Thomas’ attorney hasn’t commented. A phone message was left after business hours at his law office.

The Cuyahoga Falls resident was arrested in January after an online sting. He was accused of asking an undercover officer in Alliance to arrange a marriage between him and the officer’s daughter.

The officer says Thomas told him he wanted the girl for sex.

Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced July 24.