The former acting chief executive of the Ulster Scots Agency is set to plead guilty to sex charges involving an underage girl.

A lawyer representing Stan Mallon asked an American court on Monday for a date to be set for Stan Mallon to change his plea.

In June, Mr Mallon pleaded not guilty to charges that he enticed a girl he believed to be 14-years-old to engage in sex and that he travelled between states to engage in sex with a minor.

We're in the process of completing a plea agreement but it isn't finalised

Defence lawyer

The US Federal Court has heard that the police allege the girl was actually an undercover police officer. They allege Mr Mallon contacted the officer over the internet, believing she was a teenage girl.

Mr Mallon, who has been held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago since his arrest in March, will appear again in court on 10 October.

The 62-year-old was arrested at a hotel in the city by officers from Cook County Sheriff's child exploitation unit.

His lawyer Cynthia Giachetti said in court on Monday: "We're in the process of completing a plea agreement but it isn't finalised."

A United States prosecution lawyer raised no objections to the new court date.

Stan Mallon is contesting the charges

Mr Mallon, a father-of-five from Crumlin in County Antrim, was in court for the hearing, but did not speak.

If convicted, Mr Mallon could face a maximum penalty on each charge of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

The Ulster Scots Agency is one of the cultural cross-border bodies set up under the Good Friday peace agreement.