A Lehighton-area chiropractor, charged with an alleged physical assault that occurred in April 2019, was placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on Monday.

Dr. John DeMatte IV, 52, of Lehighton, appeared before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II for the placement in the program for first-time offenders. DeMatte is the owner of DeMatte Chiropractic in Franklin Township.

Mahoning Township police charged DeMatte with aggravated assault and two charges of simple assault.

According to court documents, on April 18, 2019, police went to a local hospital to meet with an assault victim. The woman had a black eye, a cut on her chin, and second-degree burns on her back and right arm.

She told officers that on the morning of April 13, 2019, DeMatte threw a hot substance on her. She said he then pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face, and dragged her across the floor by her hair.

She said the attack followed an argument which started the night before.

DeMatte was arrested that day on the assault charges and sent to Carbon County Correctional Facility and later released on bail.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Rapa said the victim of the assault, DeMatte’s wife, agreed to the ARD placement.

Nanovic placed DeMatte in the program for two years and ordered he pay an assessment of $450 for the cost of the program, get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, successfully complete an anger management course, continue his current counseling, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.

If he successfully complete the program, his record will be wiped clean. However, if he fails to complete it, or is revoked from the program, he will have to stand trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.