CINCINNATI »The wife and three children of an American man charged with "anti-state" crimes in North Korea are planning to attend a news conference in hopes of helping his case.

The family of Jeffrey Edward Fowle, of Miamisburg in southwestern Ohio, is set to attend the news conference at their attorney’s office on Tuesday.

The attorney is expected to read the statement and says the family won’t answer questions.

The 56-year-old Fowle was detained sometime after he arrived in North Korea on April 29 for what the communist country says are hostile acts that violated his tourist status.

Fowle recently told a local AP Television News crew that he fears his situation will worsen with a trial and pleaded for help from the U.S. government to secure his release.