A Higgins man allegedly bought sex toys and had them delivered to a 12-year-old girl in the United States, a court has heard.
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But Thomas Keski-Nummi-Wilson, 23, told police his relationship with the girl was one of friendship and did not involve any sexual activity.
Keski-Nummi-Wilson was arrested earlier this month by federal police acting on a tip-off from the FBI, and charged with grooming a child.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 years' jail.
He was granted bail in the ACT Magistrates Court last week after defence lawyer Adrian McKenna said his client would not contact the girl and would report to police three times weekly.
Court papers said the accused had met the girl online in August last year and the pair communicated regularly via a number of social media applications.
He allegedly told police she initially told him she was aged 17, turning 18, but then revised that down to 14 going on 15 when he met her in the United States in January.
US authorities became aware of the relationship and allegedly uncovered evidence of sexual conversations between the pair online.
A receipt for sex toys which had been shipped to the girl from an email linked to the accused was allegedly found during a search of her room at her Colorado home.
Keski-Nummi-Wilson is alleged to have travelled to Colorado to meet the girl in January, and then paid to take her, her mother, and his mother on a week-long holiday to Hawaii.
Court documents said the mothers travelled to the islands together, and he and the child flew separately and were picked up by the women upon arrival.
In an interview with police, he also allegedly admitted to paying up to $8000 for the Hawaii trip, despite discovering she was underage.
But he claimed the pair had been rarely left alone together in the seven days on the Pacific island chain.
The accused also allegedly said he had sent about $4000 to the child's mother to stop them being evicted from their home.
It is understood US authorities have charged the child's mother with a number of offences, including trafficking a minor for sexual servitude, and pimping of a child.
Keski-Nummi-Wilson is due back in court in December.
