Six first time offenders in the criminal justice system were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program this week by county judges.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record is 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.Placed by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II were:Jason Anthony Bender, 25, of Palmerton, was placed on charges of aggravated assault. He was arrested on Sept. 12 by Palmerton police for an incident in the area of 933 W. Edgemont Ave., and Officer Michael Fedor the listed victim.He was assessed $350 for the costs of the program and ordered to get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, make restitution to be determined by the adult probation office, and render 50 hours of community service.Peter Charles Coursen, 29, of Bethlehem, was placed on a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. He was arrested on Aug. 20 along Cherry Hill Rd., in Parryville, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .18BAC.He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and his license was suspended for 60 days.Joshua Michael Jones, 29, of Hellertown, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on July 4 along Red Hill Rd., in Towamensing Township, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .09BAC.He was assessed $350 and ordered to get a D&A evaluation.The following were placed by Judge Steven R. Serfass.Brian Madison Craddock, 40, of Tamaqua, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Nov. 26, 2011, along Blakeslee Blvd. in Mahoning Township by township police. Given a test, the result was .13BAC.He was assessed $400 and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 30 days, and render 50 hours of community service.Judith Karin Sabol, 50, of Summit Hill, was placed in the program for a total of two years on two pending cases. She was placed on a charge of contraband-controlled substance, at the county prison on April 17, filed by Nesquehoning police. The second placement was for obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresenting herself as a physicians' assistant. The incident occurred on March 2, 2011, in Lansford.She was assessed $500 and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, continue counseling, and render a total of 200 hours of community service.Austin Robbin Wilson, 24, of Allentown, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Aug. 5 along Bridge St., in Lehighton by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .15BAC.He 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 close to $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.