Several area residents were among 26 defendants who were qualified by District Attorney Karen Byrnes Noon to be admitted into Schuylkill County's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) probation Program.

All appeared before Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin, who admitted them into the program and imposed conditions.If they complete all the conditions of the program their criminal record will be cleared. This is a program for first offenders charged with non-violent crimes.All were placed for a year, unless otherwise noted.Andrew Owen Bensinger, 26, of 125 Penn St., Tamaqua, possession of a controlled substance, assessed $350 for the cost of the program, pay $50 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA) fund, perform 10 hours of community service, and make restitution of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. On a summary charge of driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Bensinger was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Dane S. O'Brien.Michelle A. Kunkel, 39, of 120 Penn St., Tamaqua, violation of public welfare code, assessed $350, $50 to CJEA fund, perform 10 hours of community service, and make restitution of $1,760 to Schuylkill County Assistance Office for receiving supplemental nutrition assistance. Kunkel was cited by the state Attorney General's office for failing to report earnings while working in a diner.Keven L. Adams, 26, 560 Mountain Top Road, McAdoo, driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs, assessed $500., pay $100 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE) fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $460 to Schuylkill Medical Center (SMC) South, attend alcohol highway safety school, receive outpatient treatment, and driver's license suspended 60 days. Adams was cited by McAdoo Patrolman William Curilla.Cynthia Helene Alba, 30, of 62 Washington St., Middleport, DUI of alcohol, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $60 to SMC-South, complete safety school, receive outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service, driver's license suspended 60 days, and make restitution of $683.96 to Carissa Dalton and $5,417.78 to Progressive Insurance Company. Alba was cited by Trooper Joseph J. Aponick on Coal Street in Middleport.Matthew S. Capulich, 68, of 117 S. Hancock St., McAdoo, DUI of alcohol, assessed $500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 60 days. Capulich was cited by McAdoo Patrolman William Curila.Christine Seip, 45, of 625 Saint John St., Allentown, retail theft, pay $350 to CJEA fund, perform 10 hours community service, and make restitution of $2.75 to Family Dollar Store, Tamaqua. Seip was cited by Patrolman Karl Harig.Carmen Lydia Perez, 50, of 2128 S. Ninth St., Allentown, DUI of drugs, $500 assessment, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $460 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and license suspended 60 days. Perez was cited by West Penn Township Patrolman Corey L. Frey.Keith A. Wesner, 33, of 686 Buck Mountain Road, Weatherly, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $460 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 30 days. Wesner was cited by McAdoo Patrolman Steven Homanko.Hunter Scott Purcell, 21, Pottsville, fleeing police, $350 assessment, and $50 to CJEA fund. On a charge of driving while license suspended was fined $200, driving an unregistered vehicle, fined $75, and failing to carry insurance on his vehicle fined $300 plus $150 in costs. Purcell was cited by Minersville Patrolman Richard C Clink.Bernard Michael Skaudis, 55, Ringtown, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $60 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 60 days. Skaudis was cited by Trooper Joseph Aponick when stopped at intersection of state routes 924 and 339 in East Union Township.Jessica Lynn Acker, 20, Saint Clair, retail theft from Walmart Store, Saint Clair, $350 assessment, $50 to CJEA fund, and perform 10 hours community service. Acker was cited by Patrolman Martin H. Sterner.Robert Michael Ellis, 21, Pottsville, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $60 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 60 days.On a summary charge of failing to have rear lights working was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Ellis was cited by Trooper Vincent A. LaSelva Jr. when stopped on Maple Avenue, Marlin, in Norwegian Township.Daniel David Koons, 19, Fredericksburg, two counts of furnishing alcohol beverages to minors at a campsite in Locust Lake State Park, Ryan Township, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA fund, and perform 10 hours community service. Koons was cited by Ranger Chad Woleslage.Anna Mae Murphy, 67, Pottsville, retail theft, $350 assessment, $50 to CJEA fund, and make restitution of $32.78 to Giant Food Store. Murphy was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Grant F. Yoder.Ashley Nicole Rickard, 25, Pottsville, possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, $350 assessment, $50 to CJEA fund, $100 to SAE fund, and perform 10 hours of community service. Rickard was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Joseph J. Krammes.Brittany Elaine Zelinsky, 21, Mahanoy City, retail theft from Boscov's Store, Fairlane Village Mall, Pottsville, $350 assessment, $50 to CJEA fund, and perform 10 hours community service. Zelinsky was cited by Trooper Todd W. Heintz.Scott Kenneth Bainbridge, 54, Shamokin, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $60 to SMC-South, attend safety school, receive outpatient treatment, perform 10 hours of community service, and license suspended 60 days. He was cited by Schuylkill Haven Patrolman Kenneth A. Jacoby.Amy Beth Geiger, 20, DUI of drugs, $500 assessment, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $460 to SMC-South, attend safety school, receive outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 90 days. On a summary charge of windshield obstruction was fined $25 plus $50 costs.Robert Edward Cantwell, 59, Port Carbon, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $60 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 60 days. Cantwell was cited by Palo Alto Patrolman Joseph Kavanaugh.John Paul Caporusso, 27, Shenandoah, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $460 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 60 days. Caporusso was cited by Trooper Arthur Wink on I-81 in Butler Township.Brooke Celene Ditzler, 20, Pottsville, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, attend safety school, receive outpatient treatment, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 90 days. On a summary charge of driving an unregistered vehicle was fined $75 plus $50 fine. Ditzler was cited by Minersville Patrolman Richard C. Cink.Christopher Allen Grustas, 18, Schuylkill Haven, DUI of drugs, $500 assessment, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $460 to SMC-South, attend safety school, receive outpatient treatment, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 90 days. Grustas was cited by Orwigsburg Patrolman Brandon K. Bayer.Shawn Allen Jessman, 20, Frackville, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, attend safety school, perform 10 hours of community service, and driver's license suspended 90 days. Jessman was cited by Cpl. Richard Morgan, state trooper, on SR1010 in Mahanoy Township.Joan Marquez, 23, North Bergen, N.J., DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $60 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and driver's license suspended 30 days. Marquez was cited by McAdoo Patrolman Steven Homanko.Rahn Leitzel, 60, Hegins, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $460 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service, and license suspended 60 days.On summary charge of failing to drive on roadway laned for traffic and stop sign violation was fined $25 each plus $100 costs. Leitzel was cited by Trooper Michael Ryan on Route 15 in Frackville.Melvin E. Letcher, 54, Orwigsburg, DUI of alcohol, $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $50 to MCARE fund, $60 to SMC-South, attend safety school, perform 10 hours of community service, and driver's license suspended 60 days. Letcher was cited by Trooper Caleb Huiber after driving car into ditch off SR61, West Brunswick Township.Each defendant must also pay a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.