Carbon County court — ARD

Four people charged with criminal counts were placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on Thursday.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record will be wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete it, or are revoked from it, then they will face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.

The four were placed by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Cheryl A. Pearson, 57, of Allentown, was placed for six months on a driving under the influence charge. She was arrested on Dec. 2, 2015, by state police at Lehighton. She refused a test.

She was assessed $650 for the cost of the program and was ordered to get a mental health evaluation, and her license was suspended for 60 days.

James L. Ruff, 41, of Palmerton, was placed for a year on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Dec. 1, 2017, by Palmerton police along Hillside Avenue. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was assessed $600, and his license was suspended for 60 days.

Jocelyn Marie Russo, 21, of Palmerton, was placed for a year on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Dec. 17, 2017, along Pohopoco Drive by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was 0.14 BAC.

She was assessed $500, and her license was suspended for 90 days.

Joseph W. Regan, 57, of Jim Thorpe, was placed for six months on four motor vehicle code violations. He was stopped on April 13 by Lehighton police along the Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Blvd.

He was assessed $450.

Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.