The two communicated via the Internet for a while before agreeing to meet in person on Chalkstone Avenue in Providence in April, Pawtucket Det. Lt. Daniel Mullen said when Dekargai was arrested.

The man picked the girl up and drove her to Pawtucket, where they allegedly had sex, Mullen said. Later, he gave the girl cab fare to go home, Mullen said.

Both have said the sex was consensual. However, because she is only 11, it does not matter if she consented to sex or that there is no allegation that force was used, the police said. At her age she cannot consent. It also doesn’t matter that the girl lied about her age, the police said. It is a crime to have sexual relations with an 11-year-old child.

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

The girl identified the man through his posting on MySpace.Com, the police said.