Boston Area Man Faces Charges Of Sex With Girl, 13

DETROIT (AP) - Authorities say a 54-year-old Massachusetts man traveled to Michigan to have sex with a 13-year-old girl who was his bride in an online role-playing game.

John Phillips of Fitchburg, Mass., is charged with sexual assault, child sexually abusive activity and accosting a child for immoral purposes.

Defense lawyer Joseph Niskar tells The Associated Press that people should wait until evidence is heard at a Thursday hearing in Detroit before forming judgments about Phillips. Niskar says there will be "lots of twists and turns in this case."

Authorities say Phillips met the girl online while playing RuneScape and they got married in the game. They say he traveled to Michigan three times to see her.

The girl's mother called police after learning she was using a cell phone Phillips gave her.