Nine first time offenders were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program on Thursday by Senior Judge Richard W. Webb.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record is wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete the program or are revoked from it the Commonwealth reserves the right to prosecute them on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilty in entering the program.Of the nine, eight were placed on driving under the influence (DUI) charges. All were placed for a year, unless otherwise noted.DUI casesThe following were placed on DUI charges.Joshua Andress, 19, of White Haven, was arrested on March 4 along Eurana Avenue in Weatherly. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was ordered to pay $450 for the cost of the program, get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and license suspended for 90 days.Anthony James Arnoldi, 40, of Hazleton, was arrested on May 2 along SR54 in Nesquehoning. Given a test, the result was .27BAC.He was ordered to pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation and license suspended for 60 days.Jason E. Bianco, 21, of Palmerton, was arrested on April 17 along Holiday Drive in Kidder Township. Given a test, the result was .17BAC.He was ordered to pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation and license suspended for 90 days.Christina Nichole Ford, 25, of Albrightsville, was arrested on June 30 along SR903 in Kidder Township. She refused a blood test and will lose her license for a year. She was ordered to pay $450 for the program, D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days and must render 20 hours of community service.William R. McCartney, 61, of Jim Thorpe, was arrested on April 28 along Locust St., in Nesquehoning. Given a test, the result was .19BAC.He was ordered to pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation, license suspended 60 days and render 19 hours of community service.Lisa Payton, 24, of White Haven, was arrested on May 22 along Main St., in Weatherly. Given a test, the result was .21BAC.She was ordered to pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days and render 20 hours of community service.Lillian Wittig, 44, of Tresckow, was arrested on May 16, 2009, at Patterson and Ridge streets., Lansford. Given a test, the result was .16BAC.She was ordered to pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation and license suspended for 60 days.Jennifer Lynn Santa, 19, of Orefield, was arrested on April 18 along E. Main St., in Weatherly. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.She was ordered to pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation, and license suspended for 90 days.Other caseMatthew Robert Melnick, 19, of Tamaqua, was placed on a charge of possession of marijuana. He was arrested on May 26 at a vehicle stop at W. Bertsch and Center streets., Lansford. He was ordered to pay $350 for the program and render 15 hours of community service.Each defendant must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.