Four University athletes were placed on the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for one year after facing charges Monday in the Centre County Court.

Basketball team members Eric R. Carr, Michael W. Jennings and Jon C. Dietz and football team member Brian C. Gelzheiser were placed on the first-time offenders program after being arrested last semester.

The ARD program, which is most often used in drunken driving cases, puts the accused parties on probation instead of on trial, said Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar.

Dietz (junior-labor and industrial relations) and Carr (junior-leisure studies) had been charged with receiving stolen property, making false reports to police and harassment by communications after Jennings (junior-labor and industrial relations) gave them a portable police two-way radio that he had found.

Jennings was charged with theft of mislaid property and receiving stolen property.

According to court records, Jennings found the radio outside Hamilton Hall a few days after it disappeared from a dorm in October 1990. He gave it to Dietz and Carr so they could return it to the police. They kept the radio and Carr told police that he and Dietz used the radio to make two prank telephone calls.

Gelzheiser (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) was charged in a separate case with the attempted illegal use of a credit card last Oct. 14.

According to court reports, Gelzheiser tried to buy clothes at Michael's Clothing Co., 119 S. Fraser St., with someone else's credit card. The card had been reported stolen by the owner.

People are put in the ARD program on the district attorney's recommendation and are placed on probation for a year, Gricar said. Their cases are suspended for the year and they must comply with all the guidelines set by the court, such as paying restitution or attending counseling sessions, Gricar added.

"If they would screw up in any way . . . a motion to terminate ARD is filed," Gricar said.

But most people follow the guidelines which are set forth in the ARD program, said Centre County Criminal Court Administrator Cheryl Spotts. If they do not follow the guidelines and ARD is withdrawn, they must enter a guilty plea in their case, she added.

None of athletes could be reached for comment.