IDAHO FALLS — A truck driver from Canada was arrested Dec. 17 in Idaho Falls for one felony count of enticing a child through use of the internet.

Kelly Maier, 41, who drives a 2005 Peterbilt for Boot Trucking in Fort Macleod, Alberta, was taken into custody after an operation by the Idaho Crimes Against Children Task Force. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

According to court documents, an ICAC detective began an undercover chatting operation online from Idaho Falls by creating an account on an anonymous chat application. The detective posed as an 18-year-old female.

A person claiming to be a 37-year-old male, who turned out to be Maier, quickly began chatting. The detective asked the man if he’d be upset if she weren’t 18 but 14.

The man replied he was a truck driver heading to Pocatello and to call him “daddy.”

According to the court records, the detective moved the conversation to another application that allowed messaging. The man later sent a photo of himself, whom detectives were able to identify as Maier.

Maier allegedly asked that they meet up.

“That way you can get a feel if you wanna go for a drive sometime,” Maier said. “We would probably definitely behave lol.”

They agreed to meet at Love’s Truck Stop in Idaho Falls on Dec. 17. Maier sent an Uber to pick up the fake teen, who was actually an undercover female officer, according to court records.

Two detectives followed the Uber to the truck stop, but another detective doing surveillance at that location detained Maier as he exited the shower area. Maier was later transported to the Idaho Falls Police Complex to be formally interviewed, according to the affidavit.

Maier was asked about messages he sent such as: “Why do I find it kinda hot that your in grade 8.”

“I don’t find it hot anymore,” Maier reportedly told the detectives interviewing him.

Maier was arrested and taken to the Bonneville County Jail. His bond was set at $500,000, which he posted on Dec. 18 and was released from jail.

The married truck driver with two children remains incarcerated awaiting his preliminary hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 13 before Magistrate Judge John C. Dewey in the Bonneville County Courthouse.

If Maier posts bond, he is ordered to have no internet access, no contact with minor children and no access to any device that can access the Internet, according to court records. He must also stay at least 500 feet away from any location where children congregate and surrender his passport.