Sixteen first-time offenders in the criminal justice system were placed in Carbon County's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program last week by Judge Steven R. Serfass.

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, 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.Thomas Robert Drakeford, 38, of Albrightsville, was placed for two years on charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault. He was arrested on May 6 by Jim Thorpe police for an incident in the area of 117 W. Broadway with Kareem Walker the listed victim.He was assessed $450 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 100 hours of community service and have no contact with Walker.Paul Donald Gilliam, 31, of Albrightsville, was placed on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on June 29, 2015, by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop.He was assessed $650 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, follow any recommendation for treatment and render 50 hours of community service.Michael Robert Hricik, 36, of Jim Thorpe, was placed on a driving under the influence charge. He was arrested on April 2 by Lehighton police in the 500 block of Mahoning Street. A test showed 0.23 BAC.He was assessed $600, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 60 days.Thomas S. Kulak, 44, of Wilkes-Barre, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on March 13 by state police at Lehighton along Route 903 in Jim Thorpe. A test showed 0.09 BAC.He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.Calvin Darren Ortiz, 21, of Walnutport, was placed on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on Feb. 29 by state police at Lehighton along Bridge Street in Weissport. He was assessed $450, ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.Joseph James Simon, 62, of Whitehall, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Nov. 25, 2015, by state police at Lehighton along Maury Road in Penn Forest Township. A test showed 0.08 BAC.He was assessed $650.Betty Ann Waxter, 45, of Jim Thorpe, was placed on a charge of accident involving damage to an attended vehicle or property. She was arrested on Feb. 2 by Jim Thorpe police after being involved in a hit-and-run crash in the 100 block of Fern Street.She was assessed $450 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.Raymond Anthony White, 30, of Tamaqua, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Oct. 4, 2015, by Lehighton police along First Street. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was assessed $650, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 60 days.Devonte Tyrone Dash, 21, of Lehighton, was placed on a charge of DUI. He was arrested on March 17 by Lehighton police along Route 209. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was assessed $600, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 60 days.Gerard Robert Ehrmanntraut, 60, of Albrightsville, was placed on a charge of simple assault. He was arrested on Feb. 25 by state police at Fern Ridge at 3 Backs Way, Penn Forest Township, with Dana Ganjeh and a female the listed victims.He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a mental health evaluation and have no contact with the victims.Rigoberto Esquivel-Ramirez, 36, of Reading, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on May 21, 2015, along Main Lane by Lehighton police. A test showed 0.23 BAC.He was assessed $550, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 60 days.Amy J. Hawk, 41, of Weissport, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on March 26 by state police at Lehighton along Route 248 at Bowmanstown. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.She was assessed $600, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and her license was suspended for 60 days.Kristina Dawn Kadian, 23, of Lehighton, was placed on charges of DUI, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault. She was arrested on May 6 by Franklin Township police for an incident along Indian Hill Road. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.She was assessed $600 and ordered to get a mental health evaluation, render 50 hours of community service and her license was suspended for 60 days.Jacalynne J. Lopata, 52, of Nesquehoning, was placed on a DUI charge. She was arrested on Sept. 21, 2015, along Route 248 by Franklin Township police. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.She was assessed $600, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and her license was suspended for 60 days.Robert Foster Malinski, 20, of Saylorsburg, was placed on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Jan. 27 by state police at Lehighton along Covered Bridge Road in Lower Towamensing Township. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was assessed $600, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 90 days.Tristan Spencer Pissani, 19, of Laurys Station, was placed on a theft charge. He was arrested on March 9 by state police at Lehighton at the Blue Mountain Ski Area in Lower Towamensing Township for taking a snowboard.He was assessed $450 and ordered to make restitution of $134.86 and render 50 hours of community service.Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program. Those charged with DUI must also follow all recommendations of their drug and alcohol evaluation.