CARY - An Internet conversation between a British teen and a Cary man led to a police investigation and the man's being charged with several sex offenses against a minor, court records show.

Cary police charged James Phillip Carroll, 19, of 300 Tynemouth Drive with six felony counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor, according to arrest records.

Carroll became the subject of a police investigation Feb. 23 after officers received an e-mail message from the U.S. Attorney's Office about the possible molestation of a 5-year-old girl, according to a search warrant application made public Monday.

According to the warrant, a 17-year-old British girl reported she received an instant message from Carroll saying he planned to "have sex with" the 5-year-old. The message said he had baby-sat the girl once and would baby-sit her again.

Cary police arrested Carroll on Feb. 25. They searched his home, taking a laptop computer, assorted DVDs, a desktop computer and a Sprint mobile phone, court records show.

Carroll posted a $150,000 bond and was released from the Wake County jail, a jail spokesman said.