Eight first time offenders placed in probation program

Eight first time offenders in criminal matters were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program on Tuesday.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record is wiped clean, however, if they fail the Commonwealth reserves the right to prosecute them on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.

The following were placed by either President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II or Senior Judge Richard W. Webb. All defendants were placed for a year unless otherwise noted.

Miriam S. Bynon, 18, of Lansford, was placed on a charge of possession of marijuana. She was arrested on April 5 in the 400 block fo E. Bertsch St., Lansford.

She was ordered to pay $350 and costs, get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 15 hours of community service.

Tara M. McFarland, 36, of Jim Thorpe, was placed in the program for two years on a charge of possession of a controlled substance in two pending cases. She was arrested on Feb. 6 along Center Ave. and on Feb. 8 in Hazard Square, both in Jim Thorpe.

She was ordered to pay $500 and costs, get a D&A evaluation, continue counseling sessions, zero tolerance on D&A use, and render five hours of commuity service per month while in the program.

John Buddy Miller, 47, of Summit Hill, was placed on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Jan. 1 by agents of the state Attorney General's office.

He was ordered to pay $500 and costs, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use, no contact with any co-defendants in the case, and render 15 hours of community service.

Mark J. Norkus, 30, of McAdoo, was placed on a driving under the influence (DUI) and possession charges. He was arrested on Sept. 22 in Summit Hill.

He was ordered to pay $450 and costs, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use and his license suspended for 60 days.

Nathan Nocchi, 19, of White Haven, was placed on a charge of criminal conspiracy-criminal mischief. He was arrested on Sept. 2, 2008, by Weatherly police, for an incident in which Mario Pasenni is the listed victim.

He was orderd to pay $500 and costs and render five hours of community service per month while in the program.

Deanna Marie Przewoznik, 33, of Palmerton, was placed on a charge of corruption of minors. She was arrested on Dec. 31, 2007, in Franklin Township along Indian Hill Road with a 12-year-old girl the listed victim.

She was ordered to pay $500 and costs, zero tolerance on D&A use, get a mental health evaluation and submit to random testing.

Emilio Humberto Torres, 19, of Allentown, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on June 7 by state police following a vehicle stop along Pohopoco Drive, in Penn Forest Township.

He was ordered to pay $350 and costs.

All those placed must also pay a $50 per month supervision fee.