Schuylkill County President Judge Jacqueline L. Russell has admitted a New Ringgold man to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. Acceptance into ARD is not an admission of guilt, and defendants may have their records cleared if they successfully complete the program.

Daniel T. Yates, 23, of New Ringgold, was charged by Orwigsburg Police Officer Bryce A. Lewis with driving under the influence of a controlled substance - impaired ability, first offense; driving under the influence of a controlled substance - schedule 1, first offense; and disregarding traffic lanes on Aug. 21, 2021.

Judge Russell admitted him into ARD for 12 months. She ordered him to pay $500 to defray the cost of the program, to have his driver’s license suspended for 60 days; to pay other court costs and fees; to successfully complete Alcohol Highway Safety School; obtain outpatient substance abuse counseling from one to three months; and perform 10 hours of community service.

Other judges handled the following local cases:

Guilty pleas

David L. Huber Sr., 50, of Palmerton, was charged by Schuylkill Haven State Trooper Timothy J. Rymarkiewicz with driving under the influence of a controlled substance - impaired ability, first offense; driving under the influence of a controlled substance - schedule 1, first offense; possession of a controlled substance; use/possession of drug paraphernalia; driving with a suspended license; failing to use turn signals; and careless driving on Dec. 10, 2020.

He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs. Judge James P. Goodman sentenced Huber to 90 days to five years in the county prison, with parole after serving the minimum time; fined him $1,500; ordered him to pay court costs and fees; submit a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee.

Goodman also fined Huber $300 for driving while his license was suspended and $25 for careless driving. Both charges also carry fees.

The judge also ordered Huber to successfully complete outpatient substance abuse treatment and to successfully complete Alcohol Highway Safety School.

Huber’s license was suspended for 18 months, followed by one year of ignition interlock.

Goodman also ordered Huber to complete 20 hours of community service.

Chauncey B. Hazel, 25, of Hazleton, was charged by Tamaqua Police Officer Thomas C. Rodgers with two counts of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance, and criminal use of communication facility on Oct. 7, 2021.

President Judge Russell accepted his guilty plea to one count of delivery of a controlled substance, and sentenced him to 18 to 48 months in state prison, to pay court costs and fees, and pay $250 to submit a DNA sample.

The remaining charges were dropped.

Richard Burkhardt, 53, of New Ringgold, was charged by West Penn Township Police Chief James E. Bonner with simple assault, resisting arrest, and harassment on Oct. 27, 2021.

Judge Russell accepted his guilty plea to the resisting arrest charge, and sentenced him to time served to 23 months in jail.

Since Burkhardt has been in jail since Oct. 27, 2021, he was granted immediate parole. He still must pay court costs and fees.

The remaining charges were dropped.

Bail reduction

John T. Urso III, 43, of Summit Hill, was charged by Walker Township Police Officer Douglas L. Springer Jr. with manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; possession of a controlled substance; use/possession of drug paraphernalia; and disorderly conduct/engage in fighting on May 12, 2021.

Senior Judge D. Michael Stine considered Urso’s request for a ball reduction, but in light of his prior record and bench warrants, denied it. Bail was kept at $20,000 cash. Urso remains in the county jail.

Bench warrants

Nicole N. D’Andria, 40, of New Ringgold, was charged by West Penn Township Police Officer Christopher P. Fischi III with nonemergency communications with 911 on March 22, 2021.

She failed to appear for jury selection on Jan. 25. On April 22, she appeared before the court via video conference, and Judge Charles M. Miller vacated the bench warrant and set bail at $1,000 unsecured.

He set the following conditions:

D’Andria must stay at her New Ringgold address and not move from there without notifying her attorney, the Clerk of Courts office, and the district attorney’s office; she must apply for a public defender; she shall attend a status conference at the courthouse at 9 a.m. May 12 before President Judge Jacqueline L. Russell; she must pay $232.53 in bench warrant and transportation fees; she must not engage in criminal activity, and she must appear for all court proceedings.

Danielle Ann Dolly, 25, of Lansford, was charged by West Penn Township Police Chief James E. Bonner with conspiracy to commit burglary; two counts of criminal trespass-break into structure; two counts of theft by unlawful taking; two counts of receiving stolen property; and unauthorized use a motor vehicle on Feb. 12, 2020.

She failed to appear for a status conference on Jan. 8, 2021. After a video conference on April 28, Judge Miller vacated the bench warrant and set bail at $15,000 cash.

He also imposed the following conditions, including that Dolly must stay at her Lansford address and not move from there without notifying her attorney, the Clerk of Courts office, and the district attorney’s office; she must not operate a motor vehicle without being properly licensed; she must not possess or consume alcohol, controlled substances, or prescribed medication unless it is prescribed to him; she shall attend a status conference at the courthouse at 1:30 p.m. May 13 before Judge Miller; she must not engage in criminal activity, and she must appear for all court proceedings.