According to the police, both Dekargai and his victim, who is from Providence, lied about their age. The girl told Dekargai over the Internet that she was 16; he claimed to be 17.

The police said the girl and Dekargai conversed on line for a few weeks before they met. In April, the two apparently agreed to meet on Chalkstone Avenue in Providence, the police said.

Dekargai drove the girl to Pawtucket, where the two allegedly had sex, the police said. Later, he gave her cab fare home, the police said.

The Pawtucket police were contacted after the girl’s mother became concerned for her daughter’s health and took her to Women & Infants Hospital in Providence on June 4. The hospital notified the police.

The girl identified Dekargai through his posting on MySpace, a social networking website, the police said. Dekargai was arrested by the Pawtucket police on June 11.

Because she is 11, it does not matter whether the victim consented to sex or that there is no allegation that force was used, the police said. Under the law, she cannot consent. It is also not relevant that the girl lied about her age, the police said.

First degree child molestation carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Under the Jessica Lunsford Child Predator Act of 2006, convicted first degree child molesters must be electronically monitored via an active global positioning system for life.