Five first time offenders in the criminal justice system were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Dispositon (ARD) probation program on Thursday by Judge Steven R. Serfass.

If they successfully complete all conditions of the program their record will be wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete it, 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.Mark Barthel, 23, of Lehighton, was placed on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI). He was arrested on March 11 along Mahoning Drive in Mahoning Township. Given a test, the result was .14BAC.He was assessed $400 for the cost of the program, and ordered to get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, license suspended for 30 days, and render 50 hours of community service.Nicholas Kuzo III, 66, of Jim Thorpe, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on April 20 along SR209 in Jim Thorpe. Given a test, the result was .24BAC.He was assessed $450 for the program, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days, render 50 hours of community service, and make restitution for damages to be determined by the adult probation office.Austin Michael Patton, 20, of Mountain Top, Luzerne County, was placed for two years on a DUI charge. He was arrested on March 17, 2011, along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township, by state police at Fern Ridge. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was assessed $500 for the program, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 90 days, and render 100 hours of community service.Lee Alex Snyder, 23, of Albrightsville, was placed on a charge of persistent disorderly conduct. He was arrested on March 11 at SR903 and Olympian Way, in Jim Thorpe, by state police at Lehighton.He was assessed $350 for the program, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and render 50 hours of community service.Gary James Williams, 28, of Lansford, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Jan. 27 along SR209 in Lehightion by state police at Lehighton. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was assessed $450 for the program, and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and license suspended for 60 days.Each must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.