One year to the day after transporting a runaway Evergreen girl to California, a 29-year-old Escondido, Calif., man pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from the incident.

Edgard “Eddie” Le pleaded guilty Thursday during U.S. District Court proceedings in Missoula to a charge of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

On Feb. 14, 2011, a 12-year-old girl was reported missing from her home after her mother walked into her room to wake her up for school and found her bed empty. The girl’s stepmother used the Facebook account of one of the girl’s friends and discovered conversations between the girl and Le.

It was eventually discovered that the pair had a month-long online relationship and had considered getting married.

Le, the girl, and Le’s friend Dennis Nelson, 37, were eventually apprehended after the FBI and the California Highway Patrol stopped the rental car in which they were traveling. Nelson admitted taking Le to Montana to pick up the child and bring her back to California.

Le and Nelson were initially brought back to Kalispell, where they were charged with custodial interference and accountability to custodial interference, respectively.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Le intended to have a physical and romantic relationship with the victim once they were back in California.

Le faces between 10 years and life in prison, lifetime supervision, and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced May 23.

It is believed that Nelson has been transported back to California to face unrelated charges there.