AKRON, Ohio – A federal judge Monday sentenced a Cuyahoga Falls man to 30 years in prison for attempting to buy a 10-year-old girl who he intended to "train" to be his wife.

Robert W. Thomas Jr., 37, was arrested in Alliance on Jan. 14 after he met the supposed seller of the child, who turned out to be an undercover Alliance police officer assigned to the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Thomas previously pleaded guilty to charges of offering to buy a child, coercion and enticement, and receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The first two charges carry minimum mandatory sentences of 30 years.

In a presentence memorandum, Thomas maintained that the sentence amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.

Federal prosecutors argued that 30 years in prison was appropriate, and was not unconstitutional.

According to prosecutors, Thomas posted messages on web sites that he was "looking for a female slave in Ohio" whom he planned to train to be his wife. He agreed to pay $400 for the girl.

After Thomas was arrested, police searched his home where they found 44 child pornography videos on a computer, plus more than 3,500 images of child porn.

"This sentence is well-deserved given the disturbing nature of the charges," said U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach.