Carbon County court — ARD

Fifteen first-time offenders were placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program this week by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

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 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.

Martha Ann Braun, 55, of Albrightsville, was placed on a driving under the influence charge. She was arrested on Sept. 23, 2017, along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test revealed a 0.09 BAC.

She was assessed $450 for the cost of the program and her license was suspended for 60 days.

Martin E. Clark, 59, of Palmerton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on July 12, 2017, along Delaware Avenue by Palmerton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

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

Francis J. Elliot, 69, of Albrightsville, was placed for six months on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Oct. 7, 2017, while he was operating a golf cart along Old Stage Road in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test revealed a 0.09 BAC.

He was assessed $450.

Michael J. Fischer, 46, of Lehighton, was placed for six months on a charge of possession, sale, use or display of documents on a vehicle. He was arrested on Nov. 4, 2017, by Palmerton police along Route 248.

He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 10 hours of community service.

Rita L. Hunsicker, 62, of Lehighton, was placed on a charge of simple assault. She was arrested on Dec. 11, 2017, at a residence along South Seventh Street by Lehighton police. She was accused of assaulting her then live-in boyfriend.

She was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, attend and successfully complete an anger-management counseling course, and have no contact with the victim.

Christopher John Kaspern, 24, of Palmerton, was placed on a charge of DUI. He was arrested on Nov. 20, 2015, along Route 895 at Bowmanstown by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was assessed $650 and had his license suspended for 60 days.

He also entered a guilty plea to a summary motor vehicle code violation of obscured license plate with a DUI count and other summaries dropped in a plea agreement. A fine of $25 and costs was imposed.

Mark Lindenmuth, 30, of Palmerton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on July 16, 2017, along Delaware Avenue by Palmerton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

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

Gerard David Matthews, 58, of Ardmore, Montgomery County, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Oct. 13, 2017, along the turnpike by state police at the Pocono barracks. A test revealed a 0.21 BAC.

He was assessed $550 and his license was suspended for 60 days.

Jonathan M. Ortiz, 30, of Allentown, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on April 1, 2017, along Mountain Road in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test revealed a 0.16 BAC.

He was assessed $550 and his license was suspended for 60 days.

Frank P. Raguso, 37, of Albrightsville, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on June 23, 2017, by state police at Fern Ridge along Tennyson Circle in Albrightsville. A test revealed a 0.22 BAC.

He was assessed $550 and his license was suspended for 60 days.

William Stewart Reichenbach II, 24, of Nesquehoning, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Oct. 7, 2017, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township. A test revealed a 0.18 BAC.

He was assessed $550 and his license was suspended for 60 days.

Cody M. Schick, 19, of Levittown, Bucks County, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on Sept. 23, 2017, along Water Birch Drive in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge.

He was assessed $450.

Dane Skrimcovsky, 31, of Jim Thorpe, was placed on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Sept. 28, 2017, by Jim Thorpe police in the 400 block of Fern Street.

He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.

Charles Joseph Stefanek, 56, of Tamaqua, was placed on a possession of a controlled substance charge. He was arrested on Sept. 28, 2017, along Route 443 by Lehighton police during a checkpoint operation.

He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Justine Leroy Xander, 35, of Fleetwood, Berks County, was placed for six months on a bad check charge. He was charged by state police at Lehighton with issuing a bad check to the Palmerton Lumber Company.

He was assessed $450. It was noted that restitution of $1,837.03 has already been made.

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.