(2003-04-28) -- A South African paleontologist was arrested today on charges of corrupting the morals of a minor when he was found by police in a parked car near a scenic overlook with an unrelated teenage girl.

The scientist, part of a team which just announced that previously discovered Australopithecus fossils were a million years older than researchers had believed, said his arrest was an innocent mistake.

"When I asked the young lady to take in a movie with me, I estimated her age at 23-to-68 years," said the 45-year-old researcher. "As it turns out, police established her age at 13, give or take a few months. They're very precise and particular about such things."

The mother of the defendant said her son's difficulty with dating has landed him in trouble before.

"His last girlfriend rejected his marriage proposal," she said, "because he gave her what he called a diamond ring. Turns out it was just coal. Then he says to her, 'Well, dear, under the proper conditions and given enough time...'."