Eight area residents were among 43 who were charged with their first criminal offense and received a break from Schuylkill County District Attorney James P. Goodman who recommended they be placed in the Accelerated Rehabilative Disposition (ARD) probation program because the offense they were charged was non-violent. At their appearance before Judge John E. Domakes they were told they had to carry out the conditions he imposed in order to clear their name.

All were placed for a year, unless otherwise noted.John R. Blank, 48, of 10 S. Greenwood St., Third Floor Apartment, Tamaqua, on charges of criminal conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property brought by Patrolman Brian Thompson, Rush Township police for allegedly taking money belonging to Damon Moyer at the Walmart Store in Hometown last April 9. Blank was assessed $350 for the program, pay $50 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA), and make restitution of $61 to the victim.Melissa Branz, 23, of 121 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo, charged by Patrolman Jeremy Talanca, McAdoo police, with retail theft of items from Fegley's Mini Mart in McAdoo, theft and receiving stolen property, pay a $350 assessment, $100 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE) fund, $50 to CJEA, perform 10 hours community service and make restitution of $4,580.80 to Federated Insurance Company and $2,000 to Fegley's Market.Steven G. Keach, 18, of 221 Lincoln Drive, Tamaqua, charged by Patrolman Jonathan McHugh, Rush Township police, with possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia last March 4. He was assessed $350, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA and perform 10 hours community service.Danielle Patricia Murphy, 30, of 82 Orchard Road, Barnesville, charged by Patrolman Brian Reno, Pottsvile police, with driving under the influence (DUI), last Jan. 25; pay a $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schutylkill Medical Center, enroll in highway safety school and Group Intervention Intensive Program and perform 10 hours of community service. On charge of stop sign violation was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Murphy's driving privileges were suspended for 60 days.Kevin James Quirk, 54, of 31 Meadow Avenue, Tamaqua, charged by Trooper Arthur Wink with DUI on Catawissa Road, Rush Township, last April 3; pay $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, receive intensive outpatience substance abuse counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Priscilla Elyse Rang, 24, of 997 Barnesville Drive, Barnesville, charged by Patrolman George Parnell, Mahanoy City police, with DUI on Aug. 8, 2009, pay $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school and receive substance abuse outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Michele Romig, 37, of 101 E. High St., Coaldale, charged by State Attorney General's Office with violation of public welfare, placed in the program for two years, pay $350 assessment, $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service and make restitution of $11,230 to Department of Public Welfare.Peter J. Sorokaput, 32, of 307 E. Ridge St., Coaldale, charged by Chief Timothy Delaney, Coaldale police, with receiving a bike stolen from 122 E. Ruddle St. and pawned in Lansford last April 10, pay $350 assessment, $50 to CJEA, and perform 10 hours of community service.Edward Lee Adams, 23, Philadelphia, charged by Patrolman Kirk Becker, Pottsville police, with DUI, pay $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, undergo counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Victoria Alonzo, 24, Matawan, N.J., charged by Patrolman Michael Dissinger, Mahanoy City police, with criminal conspiracy and endangering welfare of a child, placed in the program for 18 months, pay $350 assessment, $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA and $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.Adam Tyler Davis, 22, Pottsville, charged by Patrolman John Mohl, Pottsville police, with DUI last Dec. 8, assessed $500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, receive substance abuse outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Michael Allen Higgins Jr., Pine Grove, charged by Cpl. Jeffrey Futchko, Pine Grove police with DUI last New Year's Day, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend schooling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Jared Richard Vernitsky, 22, Schuylkill Haven, charged by Patrolman Gregory S. Meisner, Schuylkill Haven police, with DUI last Jan. 2, pay $500 assessment, $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days. On a charge of striking a parked vehicle owned by Kathleen Steckley and failing to stop was fined $300 plus $50 costs.Jonathan Andrew Bass, 24, Tremont, charged by Trooper Eric Reber with DUI on Church Road in Branch Township last Feb. 21, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, receive intensive outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days. On charges of driving an unregistered vehicle and failing to drive on roadway laned for traffic fined $25 each and failing to wear seat belt fined $10 plus costs.Erika Jean Ebling, 49, Pottsville, charged by Patrolman Eugene M. Yourey, Pottsville police, with theft by deception by giving Pottsville Housing Authority false information for eligibility, placed in the program for 18 months, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 15 hours of community service and make restitution of $2,428 to housing authority.Jolene Marie Heiser, 32, Gilberton, charged by Trooper Michael Van Buskirk with DUI in Brandonville last Feb. 22, assessed $500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Erin Ivette Lee, 21, Schuylkill Haven, charged by Patrolman Martin H. Sterner, Saint Clair police, with retail theft of 29 items from Walmart Store, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 10 hours community service and make restituition of $174.70 to the store.Jason Clark Rhen, 34, Port Carbon, charged by Patrolman Grant Yoder, Pottsville police, with theft of I-Pod last March 10, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 10 hours community service and make restitution of $50 to Walter MacCorkle.David James Schaeffer, 40, Schuylkill Haven, charged by Trooper Chad M. Smith with simple assault and recklessly endangerng a person at block shoot held last Nov. 15 at Rod and Gun Club, Second Mountain, North Manheim Township. Information filed claimed Schaeffer fired a 12 gauge shotgun during shoot injuring Jarred Lee Pennsyl. He was assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA , and perform 10 hours community service.John Albert Shadle, 76, Tremont, charged by Trooper Michael Allar with DUI when stopped last Jan. 10 in Tremont Township, assessed $500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Sheri Ann Warhola, 36, Branchdale, Branch Township, charged by Trooper John B. Carr with DUI when stopped on SR901 in North Manheim Township last March, assessed $500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days. On a charge of failing to drive on right side of road fined $25 plus $50 costs.Clint Allen Bolkovich, 34, Schuylkill Haven, charged by Patrolman Kenneth A. Jacoby, Schuylkill Haven police, with DUI last March 26, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Dustin Albert Goodman, 21, Cressona, charged by Patrolman Gregory S. Meisner, Schuylkill Haven police, with possession a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, assessed $350, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, perform 10 hours community service and make restitution of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.Alice Bernice Robinson, 53, Pottsville, charged by Patrolman Eugene M. Yourey, Pottsvile police, with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen property, tempering with public records and giving false information to police, placed in the program for two years, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours community service and make restitution of $10,176 to Pottsville Housing Authority for illegally receiving housing subsidizing funds.Afton Irene Bracey, 22, Pottsville, charged by Patrolman Joseph Krammes, Pottsville police, with DUI last March 10, assessed $500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, attend schooling, perform 10 hours community service and no license suspension. On a charge of failing to obey a traffic signal was fined $25 plus $50 costs.Robert Leroy Clark, 26, Tower City, charged by Sgt. John Boyer, Tower City police, with DUI last Dec. 23, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, receive substance abuse outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Katelynn Marie James, 22, Schuylkill Haven, charged by Trooper Robert Oakley with DUI when stopped on SR901 in North Manheim Township last Feb. 10, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, enroll in Group Intervention Program, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days. On a charge of failing to drive on roadway laned for traffic fined $25 plus $50 costs.Lester Raymond Kauffman, 46, Strausstown, charged by Trooper William Luckenbill with DUI when stopped on Blue Mountain Road in Wayne Township last March 24, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Robert J. Brish Jr., 38, Schuylkill Haven, charged by Trooper David F. Beam with DUI in Schuylkill Haven last April 26, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, perform 10 hours of community service and license suspended 60 days.Megan Elizabeth Christiano, 21, Coal Township, charged by Chief Edward Tarantelli, Butler Township police, last March 20 with DUI, assessed $500. pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.John Anthony Casella, 19, Schuylkill Haven, charged by Patrolman Gregory S. Meisner, Schuylkill Haven police, with corruption of minors and selling or furnishing alcohol beverage to minors, assessed $350, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA and perform 10 hours community service.Ernest Alan Delbo, 42, Atlas, charged by Patrolman Mark O'Hearn, Ashland police, with possession of drug paraphernalia last Feb. 5, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA and perform 10 hours of community service. On a charge of failing to activate turning signals when required was fined $25 plus $50 costs.Sherri L. Gerace, 38, Hegins, charged by Patrolman Richard C. Clink, Branch/Reilly Townships police, with DUI last Dec. 19, assesssed $500 and pay $100 to SAE fund. On charges of failing to drive on roadway laned for traffic and failing to activate turning signals when required fined $25 each plus $100 in costs.Joseph Brian Hutta, 19, Pottsville, charged by Patrolman Eugene M. Yourey, Pottsville police, with corruption of minors, possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA and perform 10 hours community service.Cody John Larson, 19, Frackville, charged by Patrolman Joseph Krammes, Pottsville police, with DUI last Dec. 30, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, receive substance abuse outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 90 days.John J. Lokitis Jr., 40, Ashland, charged by Patrolman Gerard Daley, Ashland police, with DUI last Jan. 17, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Cheryl L. Wade, 43, Pottsville, charged by Trooper William J. Luckenbill with DUI when stopped on SR61 in North Manheim Township, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, receive outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Amy M. Usalis, 39, Minersville, charged by Patrolman Jeffrey R. Bowers, Minersville police, with five counts of credit card theft, was placed for two years, assessed $750, pay $250 to CJEA, perform 100 hours community service and make restitution of $8,300 to Jackie Maddis, Minersville, victim.Edward John Linkus, 59, Paxinos, charged by Trooper Michael Marinchak with DUI when stopped on Little Mountain Road, Union Township, last Dec. 12, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days.Molly Jane Lorenz, 19, McAllisterville, charged by Patrolman Warren Glenn Firing, Schuylkill Haven police with DUI last May 1, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safe driving school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 90 days.Andres Rivera, 49, Minersville, charged by Patrolman Jeffrey R. Bowers, Minersville police, with DUI last March 10, assessed $500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, attend safety school, receive substance abuse intensive outpatient counseling, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 60 days. On a charge of failing to obey traffic control signaL was fined $25 plus $63.50 costs.Michael Walsh, 50, Shenandoah Heights, charged by Patrolman Robert Senape, West Mahanoy Township police, with recklessly endangering another person, assessed $350, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 10 hours of community service. On a charge of failing to drive on roadway laned for traffic was fined $25 plus $63.50 costs.Mark C. Wolfson, 51, Pine Grove, charged by Cpl. Jeffrey Futchko, Pine Grove police, with DUI on Oct. 35 , 2009, assessed $500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend safety school, perform 10 hours community service and license suspended 30 days.Each defendant must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while in the program.