Schuylkill County Judge D. Michael Stine has admitted six people charged by local police into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. The program, for first-time nonviolent offenders, gives offenders a chance to clear their records if they complete it successfully.

Sarah A. Bensinger, 24, of Tamaqua: Charged by Tamaqua police with possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on Feb. 7.Stine accepted her into ARD for 12 months, and ordered her to pay $350 to defray the cost of the program, pay court costs and fees, and perform 10 hours of community service.Dawn M. Benjamin, 28, of Shenandoah: Charged by Rush Township police with conspiracy, retail theft, and receiving stolen property after an incident on May 3. Stine accepted her into ARD for 12 months, and ordered her to pay $350 to defray the cost of the program, pay court costs and fees, and perform 10 hours of community service.Kyle Conklin, 19, of Palmerton: Charged by Coaldale police with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after an incident on Feb. 28. Stine accepted him into ARD for 12 months, and ordered him to pay $350 to defray the cost of the program, pay court costs and fees, and perform 10 hours of community service.Stephen Melnick, 54, of Tamaqua: Charged by Tamaqua police with passing bad checks on Feb. 1. Stine accepted him into ARD for 12 months, and ordered him to pay $525 in restitution to Terry Ahner, pay $350 to defray the cost of the program, pay court costs and fees, and perform 10 hours of community service.Casey J. Mengel, 31, of Pulaski, Virginia: Charged by the Schuylkill County district attorney's office with hindering apprehension on Dec. 31, 2014. Stine accepted him into ARD for 12 months, and ordered him to pay $350 to defray the cost of the program, pay court costs and fees, and perform 10 hours of community service.Christopher A. Arcand, 24, of Tamaqua: Charged by Rush Township police with two counts of driving under the influence, and disregarding traffic lanes and driving an unregistered vehicle on Jan. 16.Stine accepted him into ARD for 12 months, and ordered him to pay $500 to defray the cost of the program, pay court costs and fees, and perform 10 hours of community service. Arcand's license is suspended for 60 days, and he must successfully complete the Alcohol Highway Safety School. The charge of driving an unregistered vehicle was dropped.In a related matter, Bernard Hellebrand Jr., 52, of Coaldale, who was charged by Rush Township police with retail theft and receiving stolen property after an incident on Dec. 24, 2014, withdrew his motion to be placed into ARD and was placed on the trial list.