Carbon County court — ARD
Fourteen first-time offenders 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 will be wiped clean.
However, if a person fails to complete the program, or is revoked from it, then they would face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.
All were placed for a year, unless otherwise noted.
Phillip Edward Argott, 19, of Lansford, was placed for 18 months on a charge of riot, intent to commit a felony. He was arrested on June 15, 2017, by Lansford police for his part in an incident in the parking lot of the Turkey Hill Mini Mart along Patterson Street.
He was assessed $650 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 75 hours of community service and have no contact with the victims or co-defendants.
Miranda Gunkle, 19, of Coplay, was placed for 18 months on a charge of forgery. She was arrested by Weatherly police for forging checks of a borough resident.
She was assessed $650 and ordered to render 75 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.
Wesley Marshall Hetzler, 24, of Albrightsville, was placed on a charge of driving under the influence. He was arrested on May 6, 2017, along Route 903 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
He was assessed $600 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his driver’s license suspended for 60 days.
Austin W. Hyland, 25, of Lansford, was placed for 18 months on a charge of strangulation-applying pressure to throat or neck and related charges.
He was arrested on Oct. 17, 2017, by Lansford police involving an incident in the area of 322 S. Snyder Ave., the result of a domestic dispute.
He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a mental health evaluation, successfully complete an anger management course and render 75 hours of community service.
Michael Koschak, 45, of Lansford, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on Oct. 20, 2017, by Lansford police in the area of Kline Avenue and Sharpe Street.
He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.
James N. Markopolis, 38, of Junedale, was placed on a charge of firearm not to be carried without a license.
He was arrested by Weatherly police on Sept. 16, 2017, along Plane Street following a vehicle stop. He was found to have a .40-caliber Taurus handgun.
He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.
Janet Lee Marsolick, 59, of Lehighton, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested by Summit Hill police on April 27, 2016. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
She was assessed $650 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and license suspended for 60 days.
Samantha Martinez, 21, of Kingston, Luzerne County, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.
She was arrested on July 17, 2017, by Nesquehoning police following a traffic stop along Catawissa Street.
She was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 25 hours of community service.
Landon Wade Rabern, 36, of Lancaster, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Oct. 7, 2017, along Moseywood Road by Kidder Township police. A test revealed a 0.11 BAC.
He was assessed $500 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and license suspended for 30 days.
Tori Rhodes, 19, of White Haven, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on July 24, 2017, by Weatherly police along Hill Street. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
She was assessed $600 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and license suspended for 90 days.
Karen T. Robertshaw, 50, of Tamaqua, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Sept. 18, 2016, along Route 209 by Summit Hill police. A test revealed a 0.19 BAC.
She was assessed $550 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and license suspended for 60 days.
Gabrielle Marie Sadusky, 18, of Tamaqua, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Aug. 6, 2017, along Edgemont Road by Lansford police.
She was assessed $450 and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.
Heather Marie Torres, 22, of Hanover Township, Luzerne County, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on May 6, 2017, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Kidder Township. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
She was assessed $650 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and license suspended for 60 days.
Cassandra Je Wilczewski, 20, of Hazleton, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of marijuana.
She was arrested on Aug. 31, 2017, by Weatherly police along East Main Street following a vehicle stop.
She was assessed $450 and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.
Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000, a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program and those charged with DUI, must follow any recommendation of their drug and alcohol evaluation.
