BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A Connecticut mother pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that she carried out a sexual relationship with her daughter's 8-year-old playmate for almost a year.

According to a police affidavit, Tammy Imre, 29, admitted she engaged in a "fantasy" relationship with the boy, in which "she was the girlfriend and he was the boyfriend and that someday they could end up together."

The relationship allegedly occurred between September 2003 and September 2004 in Imre's Stratford home while her daughter was nearby.

Imre is charged with first- and fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.

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Imre's lawyer, Donald Papcsy, entered the plea on her behalf in Fairfield Judicial District Superior Court. He also requested a jury trial.

"There's a side to the story much different from the portrayal in the press," Papcsy said outside the courthouse. "Her story will come out over the course of the investigation."

The blond defendant remained silent and stone-faced for the two-minute hearing, except for a glance at her parents, Frank and Evelyn, and three other family members as she was escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Also present for the brief arraignment was the victim's mother, who went to police in September after finding an alleged love letter from Imre to her son.

"OK, I'm glad you finally told me why you don't want me to take those pills. I hope it's the truth because I don't want anyone but you!" the letter said, according to an affidavit. "Now tomorrow it's supposed to rain, you can come over we can (you know what)... we can come upstairs, ok? Love ya! I want you!"

According to police, Imre acknowledged she had sexual activity with the boy, but not intercourse.

She admitted to kissing the boy on numerous occasions and said he would often lie on top of her dressed only in boxers after she stripped down to bra and panties.

She claimed to have fondled him sexually only once but admitted he often touched her, according to the affidavit.

When police interviewed Imre's daughter, however, and asked her why she thought she was there, "she quickly stated that the 'victim' was doing disgusting things with her mom."

She told police she had witnessed the pair "humping," kissing, licking and undressing each other, and even claimed to have witnessed the victim shaving her mother's genital area with a razor.

Imre has been held in protective custody on $250,000 bond since her arrest in October.

A pretrial hearing was set for Jan. 11, 2005.