A University of Hawai'i professor was indicted by an O'ahu grand jury on a charge he allegedly asked a 15-year-old girl for oral sex and intercourse while in an Internet chat room, according to statements made during the return of grand jury indictments yesterday.

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

He allegedly had inappropriate conversations online from April 23 until Oct. 29 of this year, according to the indictment.

The "girl" was actually an agent with the Hawai'i Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force who held online communications with Fossorier, according to the state attorney general's office.

Fossorier, a tenured professor who teaches electrical engineering at UH-Manoa, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree electronic enticement of a child.

When reached at his Hawai'i Kai home yesterday, Fossorier, a native of France who has permanent resident status in the United States, said he has been advised by his attorney not to comment about the case.

"I think people know me at work and I don't think anyone would have anything negative to say about me," he said.

Fossorier was known in online chatrooms as "peile44," "Mark," or "Steve" according to the indictment. He is free after posting $50,000 in cash for bail.

UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said Fossorier has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the criminal case against him. Fossorier's classes have been assigned to another member of the college of engineering.

"The substance of the case is being handled by the police and the AG's task force," Takayama said.

Deputy attorney general Albert Cook, who is prosecuting the case for the state, would not comment yesterday.

Fossorier is at least the 15th person arrested by the task force on suspicion of trying to lure minors for sex via the Internet.

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

Fossorier allegedly set up a sexual encounter and designated a pickup site with the task-force agent posing as a girl.

Fossorier was arrested when he showed up for the meeting.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.