Carbon County court — ARD

Four first-time offenders in the criminal justice system 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 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.

Trevor Anthony Pelaez, 21, of Lehighton, was placed for a year on a charge of simple assault. He was arrested on June 4 by Palmerton police following a domestic incident along Harvard Avenue.

He was assessed $650 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, attend and successfully complete an anger management course and have no contact with the victim.

Joshua Wayne Pollitt, 30, of Philadelphia, was placed for two years on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, oxycodone. He was arrested on Sept. 11, 2016, along Interstate 80 in East Side Borough by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop.

He was assessed $650 and ordered to render 100 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.

Roger D. Sander, 75, of Palmerton, was placed for a year on a charge of recklessly endangering another person. He was arrested on Sept. 4 by Palmerton police following an incident along Harvard Avenue.

He was assessed $450.

Joe Michael Smith Jr., 21, of New Ringgold, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on May 11 by Palmerton police along Delaware Avenue.

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

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