A Connecticut man who thought he was meeting a young girl for sex at a Nashua motel actually encountered police officers waiting with a set of handcuffs, police said Tuesday.

Neal Skolnick, 42, was arrested Monday after driving from his Monroe, Conn., residence to a Nashua motel for the purpose of having sex with a 14-year-old girl, police Lt. Jeffrey Bukunt said.

Police detectives posed as the young girl in an Internet chat room, Bukunt said.

Skolnick initiated communication with the detectives several weeks ago and had several exchanges, believing he was cyber chatting with a young girl, Bukunt said.

At one point, Skolnick e-mailed a graphic image of himself, Bukunt said.

Finally, arrangements were made between Skolnick and who he believed was a young girl to meet at a Nashua motel, Bukunt said. Skolnick drove to the motel Monday afternoon and was met by detectives, Bukunt said.

Computer users pay to access the chat room, and once inside, they can exchange e-mail addresses and phone numbers, Bukunt said.

“It’s an ideal setting to exploit children,” he said.

Bukunt declined to further detail the Internet sting because he said detectives are still investigating other people looking to exploit children. He also declined to comment if Skolnick has a criminal record.

Skolnick, of 244 Cross Hill Road, in Monroe, is charged with the felony crimes of attempted sexual assault and computer services prohibited. He was being held on $20,000 bail pending an arraignment Tuesday morning.

– ALBERT McKEON