A MAN is accused of indecent communication with a US law enforcement officer posing as a decoy.

Christopher McGovern, 33, allegedly committed the crime at his home in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.

Court papers state McGovern believed he was talking to a child named Courtney for seven days in May 2019.

It is claimed that he was in fact communicating with Maureen McClanahan - a US law enforcement officer.

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The charge says McGovern directed written and verbal sexual communications towards her.

This includes repeatedly sending sexual messages via apps Chat Avenue and Kik messenger.

McGovern is also said to have repeatedly contacted her by telephone to instruct her to do a sex act.

He is further claimed to have expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with her.

McGovern faces a separate charge of attempting to cause a child to look at a sexual image of a man's genitals.

McGovern denies the two charges and was set to go on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court in June.

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However, prosecutor Emma Baker made a Crown motion to adjourn to a later trial date.

She said: "The difficulty comes from an interview request through a video link for the witness who resides in Virginia.

"After speaking to US authorities, there is an extra hiccup.

"The officer's work in this case arises out of US Homeland Security.

"Additional clearance needs to take place from the US authorities."

The depute added that a difficulty also arises out of where the witness would give her evidence from.

She said: "They are five hours behind us which would only give us one hour a day which is not practical.
"The simplest option is to fly the witness over from Virginia and this is not able to be done for June due to Homeland Security problems.

"There is a lot of background work to take place to get clearance and to discuss the matter directly as it is a Homeland Security investigation."

Sheriff Gerard Considine granted the Crown motion and set a trial for August with a hearing taking place two weeks before it.

He said: "These are exceptional circumstances and it is important that we know the security clearance is in place."

McGovern had his bail continued meantime.