A Sherwood Park man who was charged with the sexual assault of a minor has been acquitted on all counts.

Morinville RCMP charged Michael Edward Terrance Hoffart with two counts each of sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching after they said he was discovered in a vehicle with a 15-year-old girl in Gibbons last Jan.

On Thursday, a judge found the accused took all reasonable steps to determine that the victim was over the age of 16.

"I find here, the accused made an earnest inquiry, several in fact. The deception practiced by the complainant was extensive," said provincial court judge M. Jeanne Burch.

Hoffart says parents should be watching what their children are doing online.

"So you know you think it's just older people preying on young kids -- it's going the other way too -- so just watch your kids," he said.

Investigators said the pair met through the online dating website okcupid.com, and that the girl said she was 20. The girl's online photo showed her wearing heavy makeup. The court heard how the pair eventually met up at gas station in Gibbons for sexual activity in the man's car.

Hoffart's lawyer says it's rare for an older man to be targeted by an underage girl.

"Judge Burch described it fairly well, it was an extensive deception designed to entrap the accused," said Kirk MacDonald.

The Crown tells CTV News it's too early to say if they will consider appealing Hoffart's acquittal.

With files from David Ewasuk