Schuylkill County judges Christina E. Hale and Christopher Hobbs recently ruled on cases involving people who are either local or were charged by local police.

Joseph Porvaznik, 61, Nesquehoning, was charged by state police at Frackville with possession of a controlled substance on May 28, 2022.

Judge Hale accepted his guilty plea, and sentenced Porvaznik to pay court costs; pay a $50 monthly supervision fee; pay $150 in fees; and serve 12 months on probation.

Sarah L. Quinones, 39, Hazleton, was charged by McAdoo police with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, first offense, on Aug. 5, 2016.

She had been placed on probation, but violated the terms. Judge Hale revoked her probation and sent her to state prison for 9 months to five years. She gave Quinones credit for the 36 days she had already served.

Heather Joy Smith, 47, Tamaqua, was charged by Tamaqua police with driving under the influence, high rate of alcohol, first offense; driving while her operating privileges were suspended or revoked; accidental damage to an unattended vehicle or property; and failing to keep right on Sept. 16, 2022.

She pleaded no contest, and Judge Hale ordered the Adult Probation Department to conduct an investigation before sentencing on June 20.

Joanne M. Rowlands, 63, Tamaqua, was charged by state police at Frackville with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, first offense; driving under the influence of a controlled substances, first offense; possession of a small amount of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; driving while her operating privileges were suspended or revoked; and failing to use her turn signals on July 1, 2022.

Judge Hale accepted her guilty pleas to the impaired ability, paraphernalia, and suspended license charges.

The remaining charges were dropped.

On the DUI impaired ability charge, Judge Hale sentenced Rowlands to pay a $1,000 fine; pay court costs; pay a $50 monthly supervision fee; pay a total of $300 in fees; perform 10 hours of community service; successfully complete Alcohol Highway Safety School; surrender her license for 12 months; undergo one to three months of outpatient substance abuse treatment; serve 72 hours to six months in jail, with immediate parole.

On the paraphernalia charge, Judge Hale sentenced her to 12 months on probation.

On the suspended license charge, Judge Hale ordered Rowlands to pay a $400 fine and pay a total of $77 in fees.

Judge Hobbs accepted a Tamaqua woman into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.

Acceptance into the program, for first time, nonviolent offenders, is not an admission of guilt. If the defendant successfully completes the program, his or her record may be expunged.

Carla R. Theisen, 58, was charged by state police at Frackville with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, first offense; driving under the influence of a controlled substance, first offense; failing to use a safety belt; and disregarding traffic lanes on Aug. 14, 2022.

Judge Hobbs accepted her into the ARD program for 12 months.

He ordered Theisen to pay $500 to defray the costs of the program; to pay court costs; pay a $50 monthly supervision fee; to pay a total of $250 in fees; surrender her license for 60 days; successfully complete Alcohol Highway Safety School; and perform 10 hours of community service.

He also ordered her to pay a $25 fine and a total of $77 in fees on the seat belt charge.