Six first-time offenders in the criminal justice system were placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program last week 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 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.

Placed were:

Benjamin R. Jones, 55, of West Pittston, Luzerne County, on a charge of terroristic threats and related counts.

He was charged by Kidder Township police for an incident on Nov. 17, 2016, along Route 1003 in Lake Harmony Estates. Police said he drove his vehicle at a high rate of speed at a contractor working in the area and reportedly had a handgun in his possession.

He was placed for a year and assessed $650 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, attend and successfully complete an anger management course and have no contact with the victim.

Francys De La Cruz, 22, of Hazleton, was placed for a year on a charge of firearm not to be carried without a license.

He was charged by Weatherly police for an incident on Dec. 9, 2020, along Plane Street, following a vehicle stop. A 9 mm handgun was found in the vehicle.

He was assessed $650 and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.

Carlos Rafael Anziani-Rosario, 20, of Hazleton, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana.

He was arrested on Aug. 31, 2020, by state police at Lehighton along Pohopoco Drive in Franklin Township following a vehicle stop.

He was assessed $450 and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

John Anthony Cherba, 44, of Weatherly, was placed for a year on a charge of terroristic threats and related counts.

He was arrested on May 19 by state police at Hazleton for an incident involving his mother as the victim at a residence along Brenkman Drive in Packer Township. He is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges.

He was assessed $650 and ordered to get a mental health evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Christopher Thom Naylor, 28, of Lehighton, was placed for a year on a charge of simple assault.

He was arrested on May 15 by state police at Lehighton for an incident along Chestnut Ridge in Lower Towamensing Township, involving a female victim.

He was assessed $650 and ordered to attend and successfully complete an anger management course, render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

Christopher Juan Roman, 24, of Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of marijuana.

He was arrested on Dec. 8, 2020, by Weatherly police along Plane Street following a traffic stop.

He was assessed $650 and ordered to render 25 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.