Police yesterday arrested a University of Hawai'i-Manoa associate professor who had made an Internet date to have sex with who he thought was a 15-year-old girl, the state said.

Marc P.C. Fossorier, 43, of Hawai'i Kai, was arrested at the McDonald's restaurant at 98-147 Kamehameha Highway in 'Aiea at 10:59 a.m. after going there to meet the girl for a sexual encounter.

The "girl" was actually an agent with the Hawai'i Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force who posed as a 15-year-old girl in online communications with Fossorier, state Attorney General Mark Bennett said in a news release.

Fossorier, who teaches electrical engineering at UH-Manoa, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree electronic enticement of a child. He is at least the 15th person arrested by the task force on suspicion of trying to lure minors for sex via the Internet.

According to the news release, Fossorier allegedly set up a sexual encounter and designated pickup site with the task force agent posing as a girl. Fossorier was arrested when he showed up for the meeting. He was being held at the main police station cellblock last night, pending charges.

If convicted, Fossorier could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and would have to register as a sex offender.

UH spokesman Gregg Takayama would not comment on the arrest.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.