NEWTON -- Adam Baker will have to wait another day before he'll know the final detail of a plea bargain his attorney is preparing with the Catawba County District Attorney's Office.

Baker, the father of murdered 10-year-old Zahra Baker, is charged with one felony count each of identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense for obtaining electricity from Duke Energy. Prosecutors says he used a family member's name at his Hickory home to get the electricity in August 2010.

Baker, his attorney Mark Killian, and lawyers with the District Attorney's Office met behind closed doors this morning to work out the details of the plea agreement. It's unlikely Baker will face any jail time.

After the meeting, Killian said Baker "hopes to get back home so he can get back and return to work, and do things any normal citizen will do."

Zahra Baker was last seen at that house in September 2010, and her remains were found in Caldwell County about six weeks later. Elisa Baker, the girl's stepmother, pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 14 to 18 years in prison.

Adam Baker also faces several misdemeanor charges in Caldwell County, but the immigration hold on him is connected to the felony charges in Hickory. So it is unclear if we would be able to leave the country if the Hickory case is closed.

Killian says it depends on whether he's given approval from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials.

Adam Baker's new hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Catawba County Courthouse in Newton.

Meanwhile, his wife Elisa also is expected in federal court in Charlotte for a plea hearing on drug charges. Elisa Baker pleaded guilty last fall to second-degree murder in Zahra's death. She was sentenced to 15 to 18 years in prison. Observer staff contributed.