COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A state economic development official has resigned after being arrested for sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl that he allegedly met in an Internet chat room.

Randy Ankeney, 30, who had worked as a regional representative for the Governor's Office of Economic Development since November, resigned effective July 31 after the arrest became public, said Bob Lee, the office's executive director. Ankeney had been earning $63,000 per year.

Ankeney has not been formally charged. He is scheduled to appear in El Paso County District Court on Monday.

Ankeney and the girl, who is from Fountain, talked by phone on July 21 and the girl said she wanted to run away, according to court records. Ankeney told the girl he was 25 years old and she claimed to be 14, records said.

He is accused of picking her up in Fountain that evening and taking her to his apartment in downtown Colorado Springs, where he allegedly provided her with marijuana before they had sex.

He dropped her off the next day at a fast food restaurant where she called a relative who then contacted police, according to his arrest report.

Ankeney was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on a child with force, sexual assault on a child, sexual exploitation of a child, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was one of four regional business development representatives for the office, Lee said.

"We really were stunned by the allegations," Lee said. "We're angry. We're disappointed. My heart goes out for this young girl and her family."

Dick Wadhams, spokesman for Gov. Bill Owens, said that the governor was sickened by the charges and sympathizes with the girl and her family.