Teen pleads no contest to 3 charges

PALMER -- An Anchorage teen-ager who racked up 12 criminal charges during a wild drive through Wasilla in June has pleaded no contest to three counts with the others dismissed.

Brie Bliss, 18, entered no contest pleas Friday in Palmer Superior Court to leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence, and reckless endangerment. She will be sentenced March 12, 2004.

Among the charges that were dismissed were six counts of third-degree assault, eluding a peace officer in the first degree, and leaving the scene of an accident. All are class C felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000.

Bliss was driving a green 2000 Mitsubishi at Mile 49 Parks Highway the afternoon of June 7 when she forced a Wasilla police car off the road and side-swiped two other cars, including a Wasilla patrol car, according to charging documents.

After narrowly missing the first police vehicle, Bliss struck a 1999 Honda Civic driven by a Fairbanks woman, then side-swiped a Wasilla Police Department vehicle, Alaska State Troopers said. Total damage to all vehicles was estimated at $10,000.

Bliss, who was the only occupant of the Mitsubishi, was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail and a court-approved third party. She was indicted June 18 by a Palmer grand jury.

On Friday, she agreed to a five-year suspended imposition of sentence on the charge of leaving the scene of an accident. The DUI charge, her first, will result in a fine from $1,500 to $10,000 and a 90-day loss of her driver's license. The penalty for reckless endangerment is up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Bliss agreed to pay $1,948.96 in restitution under terms of the plea bargain.