Five first time offenders in the criminal justice system were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program on Tuesday 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 the program, or are revoked from it, the Commonwealth reserves the right to prosecute them on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.Those placed included:Jesse M. Becker, 24, of Tamaqua, was placed for two years on a charge of possession of a controlled substance-heroin. He was arrested on Aug. 29, 2010, following a vehicle stop in Summit Hill. He was a passenger in the vehicle. Since his arrest, it was noted, Becker entered and completed an inpatient rehabilitation program for drug addiction.Serfass ordered he pay $350 for the cost of the program. Serfass waved any public service time since Becker completed 50 hours while in the rehab program.Matthew B. Hiles, 27, of Summit Hill, was placed for a year on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI). He was arrested on Feb. 20, 2010, along Cortright Street, in Lansford. Given a test, the result was .15BAC.He was ordered to pay $400 for the cost of the program, get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and license suspended for 30 days.Susan Hughes, 51, of Weatherly, was placed for a year on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Nov. 7, 2010, along Main St., in Weatherly. She refused to submit to a test and will lose her license for a year.Serfass ordered her to pay $450 for the cost of the program, get a D&A evaluation and license suspended for 60 days.Gemile B. Mehmeti, 23, of Lansford, was placed for 18 months on a charge of false reports to incriminate another. She was arrested on Aug. 29, 2010, in Summit Hill following a vehicle stop. At the stop she gave the name of her sister to police.Serfass ordered her to pay $350 for the cost of the program and render two and a half hours of public service per month while in the program.Kenneth Monaco, 33, of Boothwyn, Delaware County, was placed for 18 months on a charge of DUI. He was arrested on Nov. 24, 2002, along SR902 in Kidder Townsdhip. Given a test, the result was .21BAC.He was ordered to pay $500 for the cost of the program, get a D&A evaluation and license suspended for 60 days.Each defendant must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.