A former Bismarck State College student has received a suspended sentence for setting a fire in a residence hall in September.

Jessica Mrachek, 20, pleaded guilty to Class C felony endangering by fire or explosion on Dec. 4. South Central District Judge Sonna Anderson on Monday at the Burleigh County Courthouse gave Mrachek a 364-day suspended sentence and five years of supervised probation.

Anderson also ordered Mrachek to pay $2,805.03 in restitution and $550 in fees. She ordered her to undergo psychological treatment and prohibited her from being on the BSCcampus.

Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Lloyd Suhr explained that North Dakota law provides that someone with a sentence of less than one year is considered a misdemeanor disposition as long as that person completes probation successfully. Mrachek will not have a felony on her record as long as she has no probation violations, he said.

Mrachek was charged on Sept. 23 after police investigated a fire that occurred at a residence hall at BSC on Sept. 11. Police said some notebook paper had been shoved into a light fixture in the second-floor bathroom, where it caught fire. The fire spread down the wall to a soap dispenser, which was partially melted.

Suhr said during Monday's hearing that Mrachek has a history of being bullied. "She chose to take this out on a group of people who had nothing to do with this," he said.

Wayne Goter, Mrachek's appointed defense attorney, requested a deferred sentence.

He said Mrachek was lonely and has mental health issues. "I think it was just a matter of wanting attention," he said.