Eight 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 will be wiped clean. If a person fails 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.All were placed for a year, unless otherwise noted.Felicia Bigg-Carr, 31, Lansford, was placed on a simple assault charge. She was arrested on Aug. 23, 2011, by Lansford police for an incident at her residence with Derek Hunsicker the listed victim.She was assessed $500 for the program and ordered to get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, submit to weekly urine screens, and render 50 hours community service.Phillip John McArdle, 21, of Jim Thorpe, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on June 16, 2011, in the area of 537 Delaware Ave., in Palmerton.He was assessed $500, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use, and render 25 hours of community service.Todd J. Mertz, 55, of Lehighton, was placed for two years on a charge of theft by unlawful taking-movable property. He was arrested on Jan. 1, 2007, by state police for the alleged theft of a heater from the Palmerton Area School District High School in Lower Towamensing Township, where he was employed as a groundskeeper.He was assessed $500 and ordered to render 100 hours of community service.Toni Shistle, 22, of New Philadelphia, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Nov. 20, 2011, along Susquehanna St., in Jim Thorpe. Given a test, the result was .09BAC.She was assessed $350, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and render 50 hours of community service.Wayne Steigerwalt II, 36, of Lehighton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Oct. 9, 2011, along Bankway in Lehighton. Given a test, the result was. 19BAC.He was assessed $450, ordered to get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days, and render 50 hours of community service.Lisa K. Szczepaniak, 40, of Kresgeville, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Jan. 1 along SR534 in Penn Forest Township. Given a test, the result was .19BAC.She was assessed $450, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days, and render 50 hours of community service.Amber L. Tandy, 22, of Jim Thorpe, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Nov. 27, 2011, along First St., in Mahoning Township. Given a test, the result was .12BAC.She was assessed $400, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 30 days, and render 50 hours of community service.Each defendant must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.