A 43-year-old man must now stand trial as the first person charged under a new state law calling for at least a one-year jail term for trying to lure a minor into having sex.

The O'ahu grand jury yesterday indicted Brian Y. Uejo, an accountant and Nanakuli resident, on a charge accusing him of trying to meet with a state investigator whom he thought was a 15-year-old girl.

Uejo was arrested Nov. 15 when he showed up for a meeting he had set up outside the McCully-Mo'ili'ili Library, according to state prosecutors.

Uejo remained in custody yesterday in lieu of $20,000 bail. He will be arraigned on the charges later, at which time he is expected to plead not guilty and be given a trial date.

Jack Tonaki, state public defender whose office is representing Uejo, said he could not comment.

"It's too early in the case," he said.

Uejo is charged with electronic enticement of a minor, which carries a maximum 10-year prison term.

Attorney General Mark Bennett sought the change in the law adopted this year after state judges declined to impose the maximum prison term sought by his office.

Instead, defendants were given a chance to have the cases dropped or be placed on probation. Only one of nine defendants was sentenced to a year in jail, the maximum for defendants placed on probation. Two others were not given any jail time, and the other six were given jail terms ranging from 30 days to six months, according to the attorney general's office.

If Uejo is convicted and placed on probation, the judge would be required to impose a one-year jail term.

Uejo is accused of contacting the investigator in June. The contacts became sexual in nature in July and eventually led to the meeting, according to state prosecutors.

Deputy Attorney General Albert Cook said the crime was "completed" when Uejo showed up for the meeting.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.