An Underwood woman accused of collecting about $15,000 from a Florida man who believed she was a surrogate mother and pregnant with his child has pleaded not guilty to theft of property.

Randi R. Backer, also known as Randi R. Linderman, entered the not guilty plea Wednesday morning at the McLean County Courthouse.

According to a complaint filed in McLean County, Backer "deceived Eduardo Martinez of approximately $15,000" by claiming to be a surrogate mother for hire.

The complaint alleges that Backer claimed to be impregnated by Martinez's sperm but was actually pregnant by her husband.

The charge against Backer, 24, is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of $10,000, because the amount of alleged damage is more than $10,000.

The case was investigated after Martinez, of Miami Beach, Fla., complained to McLean County authorities.

According to court documents, Backer and Martinez met over the Internet and reached an agreement that Backer would carry a child for Martinez for monthly payments of $2,350.

Martinez sent semen samples to Backer on April 6, 2006, and she told him she had artificially inseminated herself at home. She later told him she had a positive pregnancy test.

Backer e-mailed Martinez to tell him about doctor appointments, and Martinez sent her money for the checkups, court documents said.

Backer later emailed Martinez an ultrasound in July, and authorities believe the fetus in the ultrasound appeared to be about four to five months along, documents said. The baby would have been 11 to 12 weeks along if Backer had artificially inseminated herself in April.

Backer later told Martinez that her pregnancy was terminated and her tubes were tied after she experienced bleeding, documents said. Backer delivered a child on Nov. 30; the father is listed on a birth certificate as Matthew Backer, Randi Backer's husband, documents said.

Backer is free upon posting a $5,000 cash or surety bond. Her next court appearance is a pretrial conference at 10:30 a.m. April 18.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)