NNSL (Dec 05/97) - A pregnant 18-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to mischief for feeding a fire in a stolen truck has been ordered to make good on the damage.

The woman was sentenced to nine months of probation and 75 hours of community service work in territorial court earlier this week.

But Judge Brian Bruser also attached an order that she repay the owner for the loss of his truck, which is estimated to be worth $3,000.

Court heard that police found the woman and a young offender, who pleaded guilty in a separate hearing, tossing papers into a burning truck on Con Road on Oct. 18.

Prosecutors did not accuse the two of either stealing the truck or setting it alight. The court heard the woman had been drinking earlier that night.

The judge imposed the compensation order, saying that nine months of probation does not allow enough time for her to make any meaningful restitution as she would be leaving her waitressing job to have her child.

The compensation order enables the truck owner to take the woman to a civil court to get repayment. If a restitution order attached to a parole is not made good on, the only penalty is an additional sentence for a parole violation.

"It's not a very smart way to spend your free time," Bruser said of the crime. He suggested she approach her "partner in crime" for a portion of the restitution.