Carbon County court — ARD

Seven defendants in pending criminal cases were placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on Friday 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.

All were placed for a year, unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Anthony Best, 32, of Lehighton, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of marijuana. He was arrested on April 7 by Mahoning Township police along Lower Nis Hollow Drive.

He was assessed $450 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

Charles Edward Chapman, 27, of Philipsburg, Centre County, was placed on a charge of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Feb. 11, 2016, by Mahoning Township police along Route 443.

He was assessed $600 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 60 days.

Philip J. Coniglio, 48, of Nesquehoning, was placed on a simple assault charge. He was arrested on May 28 by Nesquehoning police following a domestic incident at his residence involving his wife.

He was assessed $450 and ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, attend and successfully complete an anger management course and render 50 hours of community service.

Amber M. Myers, 30, of Kunkletown, was placed on a charge of simple assault. She was arrested on May 20 by park rangers at Hickory Run State Park in Kidder Township for assaulting a female in the beach area.

She was assessed $450 and ordered to attend and successfully complete an anger management course, make total restitution of $967.50 to the victim, have no contact with the victim and render 50 hours of community service.

Kevin Patrick Ogletree, 31, of Valley Streams, New York, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Nov. 7, 2017, along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge. He refused a test.

He was assessed $600 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, and his license was suspended for 60 days.

Cheida Soto, 36, of Lehighton, was placed on a retail theft charge. She was arrested on Dec. 16 by Mahoning Township police at the Walmart store.

She was assessed $650 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and to stay out of the store.

Cierra Nicole Stein, 19, of Palmerton, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on April 27 by Palmerton police along Franklin Avenue.

She was assessed $650 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.

ARD revoked

David Parker Jr., 24, of White Haven, was removed from the ARD program on petition filed by probation officer Joseph Bettine, of the adult probation office, on a charge of DUI.

Parker violated the terms of his program by being arrested by Kidder Township police on July 11 for criminal attempt — aggravated assault by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, accident/serious bodily injury, accident involving death/injury — not properly licensed, all felonies, and two counts of recklessly endangering another person, accident involving damage to attended vehicle/property, driving when license suspended or revoked, operating a vehicle without required financial responsibility and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Mustafa Alonzo Clark, 25, Albrightsville, was revoked from the ARD program on a DUI charge on petition of Bettine for violating conditions by failing to pay court costs, failing to complete highway safety classes and failing to complete 50 hours of community service.

Matika ordered both cases placed on the next available pretrial conference list.