Carbon County court – ARD
Five first-time offenders in the criminal justice system were placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on Monday by Judge Joseph J. Matika.
If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program, their record is wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete it, or are revoked from it, then they would face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.
Barry Jay Berger, 53, of Albrightsville, was placed for a year on a charge of resisting arrest and related counts. He was arrested on Aug. 17 by Kidder Township police following an incident at the Hickory Run Tavern off Route 534.
He was assessed $450 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, attend and successfully complete an anger management course and get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.
Wyatt Michael Coll, 25, of Lansford, was placed for six months on a charge of theft and related counts. He was arrested on Aug. 27, 2018, by state police at Hazleton for an incident in which a dresser was offered for sale, payment made by the victim, but the dresser was never delivered.
He was assessed $650 and ordered to render 25 hours of community service, make restitution of $75 and have no contact with the victim.
Silvioandres Lopez, 25, of Hazleton, was placed for a year on a charge of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon. He was arrested on July 1 by Franklin Township police following a vehicle stop along Long Run Road. He was found in possession of a 15-inch fixed blade knife.
He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.
Christian Lee Schwarz, 23, of Palmerton, was placed for a year on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. He was arrested on Aug. 11 by Palmerton police in the area of 900 Mauch Chunk Road.
He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.
Jacob Redmond Tario, 20, of Lansdale, Montgomery County, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on March 24 by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop along Route 248 at Palmerton.
He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.
Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.
