BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) _ A 28-year-old Lame Deer man who pleaded guilty to stealing money from the Northern Cheyenne tribe has been sentenced to four years probation and must pay more than $6,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors say Jason Tallbull worked in the tribe's administrative office and stole the money between April and October 2007. He was accused of forging signatures and writing six checks to himself, as well as inflating two payroll checks for a total theft of $7,386.

The tribe offset some of the loss by keeping Tallbull's last paycheck and unpaid leave. He still owed $6,304, which U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull on Thursday ordered him to repay.

Tallbull pleaded guilty in August to theft from a tribal organization and told the judge he spent the money on himself.