Eighteen first-time offenders were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on Monday by Judge Joseph J. Matika.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record will be wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete the program, or are revoked from it for violating conditions, then they would face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program. All were placed for a year, unless otherwise noted.Lillian Colancecco, 29, of Summit Hill, was placed on a driving under the influence charge. She was arrested on Aug. 23 along Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East by Mahoning Township police. She refused a test.She was assessed $600 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and license suspended for 60 days.Jeffrey Joseph Genell, 35, of Scranton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on May 16 along the turnpike in Kidder Township by state police at Pocono. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was assessed $600 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, and his license was suspended for 60 days.Kaitlin Rose Helmer, 20, of Beaver Meadows, was placed on a possession of a controlled substance charge. She was arrested on July 20, along Berwick Street by Beaver Meadows police. Heroin was found.She was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.Carlos Jasiel Hernandez, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, was placed on a charge of unsworn falsification to authorities. He was arrested on Sept. 19 along Route 1003 in Lake Harmony by Kidder Township police.He was assessed $450 and order to render 50 hours of community service.Ashly Lynn Hetherington, 24, of Weatherly, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Aug. 20 by state police at Fern Ridge along Grist Mill Drive, in Packer Township. A test showed 0.13 BAC.She was assessed $500, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and her license was suspended for 60 days.William P. Hettrick, 48, of Lansford, was placed on a charge of accident involving damage to attended vehicle/property. He was arrested on Sept. 7 by Lansford police following a hit and run incident along Abbott Street.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.Adrian Stephen Jackson, 28, of Philadelphia, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on June 14 along Route 903 by Kidder Township police. A test showed 0.19 BAC. He was assessed $550, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 60 days.Brett David Kerschner, 20, of Lansford, was placed on a charge of possession of a controlled substance-heroin. He was arrested on Sept. 17 by Lansford police at the intersection of Bertsch and Springgarden streets.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and get a D&A evaluation.Matthew Craig Kirton, 38, of Lehighton, was placed on a charge of possession of marijuana. He was arrested on July 22 by Mahoning Township police along Route 443 in the area of the Tractor Supply building.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.Timothy Jacob Lash, 20, of Weatherly, was placed on a charge of theft. He was arrested on July 28 by Weatherly police for an incident involving the theft of a jar of change.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, make restitution of $494 to Lash, have no contact with the victim, and get a D&A evaluation.Nicole A. Lynn, 31, of Lansford, was placed for two years in two pending cases, both filed by Lansford police. The first case involves charges of endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault and the second case for charges of hindering apprehension and possession of drug paraphernalia.She was assessed $650 and ordered to render 100 hours of community service, get both D&A and mental health evaluations, zero tolerance for D&A use and attend and complete parenting classes.Sean Patrick Nolan, 22, of Long Pond, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on June 7 along Route 903 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test showed 0.08 BAC.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.Kevin Prendergast, 50, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was placed on a charge of firearm not to be carried without a license. He was arrested on Oct. 20 by state police at Fern Ridge following a vehicle stop along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township. He had a revolver in the vehicle and not licensed.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.Cody Aaron Silfies, 24, of Palmerton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on April 26 by Mahoning Township police along Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East. A test showed 0.15 BAC.He was assessed $500, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 30 days.Thomas Mark Suveg, 52, of Weatherly, was placed for 18 months on a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was arrested on May 31 along a railroad bed in Banks Township.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 75 hours of community service and get a D&A evaluation. He also forfeited $1,300 in U.S. currency and 13 weapons sized by police.Eddie Tapia, 27, of Hazleton, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Aug. 29 by state police at Fern Ridge along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township. A test showed 0.12 BAC.He was assessed $500, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 30 days.William Eugene Vanriper, 64, of Weatherly, was placed for 18 months on a charge of criminal conspiracy-possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was arrested on June 15 in Banks Township.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 75 hours of community service and get a D&A evaluation. He also forfeited a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2003 Hallmark trailer to the county district attorney's office and $1,800 in U.S. currency and three weapons seized by police to the state Attorney General's office.Christopher George Weaver, 22, of Bethlehem, was placed on a charge of possession of marijuana. He was arrested on March 29 along Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East by Mahoning Township police.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and get a D&A evaluation.Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.