Carbon County court — ARD

Seven first-time offenders in the criminal justice system were placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on Monday by Judge Steven R. Serfass.

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.

Damian Burak, 20, of Albrightsville, was placed on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on July 21, 2019, by Jim Thorpe police at Chestnut and Center avenues.

He was assessed $450 for the cost of the program and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 50 hours of community service.

Michael F. Denithorne, 52, of Lehighton, was placed on a driving under the influence charge. He was arrested on Feb. 28, 2018, by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was assessed $650 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 60 days.

Dewey James Keer, 21, of Summit Hill, was placed on a charge of indecent exposure. He was arrested on Oct. 6, 2019, along West Hazard Street where police found him standing with his pants down exposing himself.

He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 50 hours of community service.

James Pitre Jr., 32, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was placed for two years on a charge of strangulation - applying pressure to the throat or neck. He was arrested on Nov. 11, 2019, by Nesquehoning police for an incident along West Garibaldi Avenue involving his then girlfriend. Serfass questioned the placement and was told by Assistant District Attorney Joseph D. Perilli that the victim did not want to prosecute the case, but an agreement was reached for the ARD placement.

Pitre was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

Elaine Rodriguez, 38, of Wilkes-Barre, was placed for six months on a charge of false reports to law enforcement. She was arrested on Sept. 19, 2017, by Jim Thorpe police for an incident at the county courthouse. In an appearance before a county judge in a matter involving another defendant, she admitted giving false information about that defendant to police. At the time she made the statement she was told she would be prosecuted for making a false report.

She was assessed $650 and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

Donna M. Shehadi, 63, of Summit Hill, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Sept. 23, 2019, by Summit Hill police along West White Bear Drive.

She was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.

Tony Vazquez, 42, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was placed on a charge of DUI. He was arrested on Aug. 30, 2016, along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge. 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.

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