Five persons with pending criminal cases were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program for first time offenders on Tuesday.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program, their record is wiped clean. However, if a person fails to complete the program or is revoked from it, then the commonwealth reserves the right to prosecute them of all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.Judge Steven R. Serfass placed the following for one year, or unless otherwise noted.Jamie Lee Andre, 33, of Albrightsville, was placed on a charge of retail theft. She was arrested on Dec. 3, 2009, at the Square One Exxon Station in Kidder Township. Police charged she was an employee and on her final day of work she was charged with taking $20 worth of lottery tickets.Serfass ordered she pay $350 for the program, make restitution of $65 to the victim, and render 15 hours of community service.Kaela M. Cusanelli, 22, of Tamaqua, was placed on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI). She was arrested on Dec. 26, 2009, along SR54 in Nesquehoning after being stopped for speeding. Given a test, the result was .15BAC.Serfass ordered her to pay $400, license suspended for 30 days, get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render three hours of community service per month while in the program.Joseph Loprete, 30, of Nesquehoning, was placed on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 22, 2009, following a vehicle stop along SR54 in Nesquehoning. Found on his person was a metal pipe used for smoking marijuana, police alleged.Serfass ordered he pay $350 and render three hours of community service per month.Robert Neff, 47, of Summit Hill, was placed in the program for 18 months on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Nov. 27, 2009, along Amidon Street, in Summit Hill. Given a test, the result was .27BAC.Serfass ordered he pay $450, get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days, and render three hours of community service per month.Michael J. Tracy, 23, of Tresckow, was placed on a charge of DUI. He was arrested on Jan. 13, along SR4004 in Banks Township, by state police. Given a test, the result was .25BAC.Serfass ordered he pay $450, get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days, and render three hours of community service per month.All five must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.