Ohio man accused of offering $400 to buy girl to keep at home for sex faces federal charges

CLEVELAND – A northeast Ohio has man has been indicted on charges alleging he tried to pay $400 for a 10-year-old girl to keep at home for sex.

The three-count indictment against 37-year-old Robert Thomas Jr., of Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) Falls, was announced Thursday by the U.S. attorney's office in Cleveland.

He also is charged with using the Internet to try to entice a girl to have sex with him and downloading images of minors involved in sex acts.

There was no immediate comment from Thomas' attorney. Messages were left at his law office.

Thomas was arrested last month after an online sting. He allegedly asked an undercover officer in Alliance to arrange a marriage between him and the person's daughter. The officer says Thomas told him he wanted the girl for sex.