On March 13, Schuylkill County Judge John E. Domalakes admitted four local residents to the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program:

Marquise M. Vargas

, 23, Tamaqua, was arrested by Rush Township officer Ryan Oldt on Feb. 15, 2017, and charged with retail theft. Vargas will be on probation for 12 months. He must pay $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, a $50 bench warrant fee, a $50 a month supervision fee, and $350 to the county to defray the cost of ARD. He must perform 10 hours of community service.

Thomas E. Samler

, 33, Shamokin, was arrested by McAdoo officer Anthony DiVirgilio on Oct. 8, 2018, and charged with harassment. Samler will be on probation for 12 months. He must pay $50 to the CJEA, a $50 a month supervision fee, pay $350 to the county to defray the cost of ARD and perform 10 hours community service. He may have no contact with his victim.

Terrence E. Bergeron

, 30, Brooklyn, was arrested May 12, 2018, by McAdoo officer William Curilla and charged with DUI, possession of a small amount, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving an unregistered vehicle. Bergeron will be on supervision for 12 months. He must pay a supervision fee of $50 per month, $50 to the CJEA, pay $500 to the county to defray the cost of ARD, pay $400 to Lehigh Valley Health Network-South, pay $74 to MCARE, $25 to EMS and pay $100 to the substance abuse education fund. He must complete the Alcohol Highway Safety School and perform 10 hours community service.

Charles W. Stapleton Jr.

, 51, McAdoo was arrested July 7, 2018, by McAdoo officer Steven Torres and charged with two counts of DUI. Stapleton will be on supervision for 12 months and must pay a $50 a month supervision fee. He must pay $50 to the CJEA, $500 to the county to defray the cost of ARD, pay $120 to Lehigh Valley Health Network, $100 to the substance abuse education fund, $75 to the MCARE fund and $25 to EMS. He must complete the Alcohol Highway Safety School and perform 10 hours of community service.

On March 20 Judge Domalakes sentenced a McAdoo man with multiple arrests to serve four months to five years in county prison.

Michael J. Merenda

, 33, was arrested May 26, 2018, by McAdoo officer Steven Torres and charged with three counts of DUI, possession of a small amount, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while operator privileges are suspended or revoked. Merenda was also arrested twice by Kline Township police: July 3, 2017, for aggravated trespass and scattering rubbish; July 19, 2018, for possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Domalakes sentenced Merenda to four months to five years on the DUI charge. On the possession of drug paraphernalia charge he was sentenced to 12 months on probation. On the driving while privileges suspended or revoked, he was sentenced to 60-90 days, concurrent with the DUI sentence, and must pay a $1,000 fine, plus $65 in fees.

Merenda must also pay a $1,500 fine on the DUI charge and undergo an 18-month license suspension followed by 12 months ignition interlock. He must pay $400 to Lehigh Valley Health Network, $150 to MCARE, $100 to the substance abuse education fund and a $50 bench warrant fee. He must complete the Alcohol Highway Safety School, followed by outpatient substance abuse treatment for six to eight months. He must perform 20 hours community service.

On the aggravated trespass charge, Merenda was sentenced to two to 12 months at the Schuylkill County Prison and must pay $50 to the CJEA. He was given credit for time served, 85 days. On the possession of methamphetamine charge, he was sentenced to four months to five years, to run concurrent with the DUI sentence. He must pay $50 to the CJEA, $100 to the substance abuse education fund, $365 to the state crime lab. He will be on strict probation for 12 months on that charge and the possession of heroin charge and must pay a $50 a month supervision fee. The other possession charges were dropped.