A Sherwood Park man has been charged with sexual assault of a minor after police say he was discovered in a vehicle with a 15-year-old girl in Gibbons.
Investigators say the pair met through the online dating website okcupid.com, and that the girl said she was 20.
"They had met through an internet dating system. As a result of that had decided to hook up and meet and then engaged in the act," said RCMP Sgt. Chris Narbonne.
Investigators also believe this was not the first time the pair arranged to meet.
"It sounds like there may have been a previous encounter on the 2nd of January which investigators were investigating at the same time," said Narbonne.
Mounties point out the girl was 15 and that recent federal legislation changes have moved the age of consent from 14 to 16.
"Consensual or not is not important," said Narbonne. "If you are under the age of 16 years old, you cannot give consent."
Morinville RCMP have charged 27-year-old Michael Edward Terrance Hoffart with two counts each of sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.
A University of Alberta psychologist says it's common for some teens to alter parts of their personality online.
"It's when it starts to come to face to face it might have very dramatic consequences," said Connie Varnhagen.
Varnhagen says the most important tool for parents is dialogue.
"If you have these open discussions, then the young person is more likely going to be able to learn from that, than if you are limiting their ability to go online and communicate," said Varnhagen.
Hoffart's first court appearance is Thursday in Morinville.
With files from CTV's Rob McAnally
