Twenty-eight people received a second chance Thursday in Schuylkill County Court from the criminal justice system, as they entered a special program that will allow them to have their criminal records cleared if they complete it successfully.
Those allowed into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program must pay all costs of participating in it and comply with all directives from the court and the county Adult Probation and Parole Office.
People who successfully complete the program can petition the court to have their records expunged. However, those who do not are removed from it and will have their case placed back on the trial list.
The 28 people admitted into the ARD program by President Judge William E. Baldwin, and the charges against them, included:
James L. Albaugh, 39, of Barnesville; driving under the influence.
William M. Andrews, 29, of Frackville; DUI.
Tyron N. Brown Jr., 21, of Swiftwater; two counts of simple assault and one each of obstructing law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
Crystal L. Conahan, 30, of White Haven; two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Brittany N. Cunningham, 22, of Hazleton; DUI.
Patrick T. Curran, 19, of Pottsville; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Justin Duncan, 24, of Pottsville; DUI.
Timothy D. Fritz, 21, of Pine Grove; DUI.
Connie M. Kovach, 37, of Pottsville; DUI.
Bradley J. Krause, 30, of Auburn; DUI.
Gerald J. Labooty, 49, of Minersville; DUI.
Michele D. Linder, 45, of Orwigsburg; criminal trespass.
Wayne K.J. Manigo, 22, of East Stroudsburg; obstructing administration of law and disorderly conduct.
Thomas A. McFarland, 24, of Pottsville; DUI.
Edward F. Melusky III, 41, of Minersville; DUI.
Glenn M. Menuchak, 29, of Friedensburg; DUI.
Jonathan L. Potter, 27, of McAdoo; DUI.
Justin T. Reed, 31, of Schuylkill Haven; DUI.
Steven Reed, 45, of Pottsville; attempted theft, damaging railroad property and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Daron F. Roberson II, 27, of Bethlehem; DUI.
Laura L. Rodriguez, 37, of Pottsville; DUI.
Harold L. Spancake, 30, of Schuylkill Haven; retail theft and receiving stolen property.
Andrea F. Stegmeier, 25, of New Ringgold; false insurance claim, insurance fraud, attempted theft by deception and conspiracy.
Amanda Lynn Sterling, of Pottsville; retail theft.
Joseph R. Stevens Jr., 27, of Mahanoy City; DUI.
Wendy L. Talstein, 35, of Ringtown; DUI.
Richard R. Tomko Jr., 38, of Freeland; theft of lost property and receiving stolen property.
Kayla Wallace, 22, of Brockton; simple assault.