A former high school teacher in Colorado Springs charged with having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student could spend the rest of her life in prison.

Gwen Anne Cardozo, 33, was charged Tuesday with a pattern of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. The felony charge carries a penalty of eight years to a life sentence. Cardozo also was charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

If convicted, Cardozo would fall under a 1998 law that requires sex offenders to be incarcerated for life, if the state Parole Board deems them a continuing risk, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported Wednesday.

Cardozo -- a mother of four --- was arrested earlier this month after being placed on administrative leave and then resigning from Wasson High School. She taught English there for 10 years.

According to a police affidavit, a student teacher who was grading work for Cardozo in February found love letters written to Cardozo among a student’s homework assignments.

The letters referred to “doing it today” and ended in “I love you,” the affidavit stated. The school notified police the next day.

Cardozo originally denied having a relationship with the boy until threatened with a lie detector test. She then admitted having sex with the student three times a week for two months, according to police.