A Harford County, Md., sheriff's deputy is accused of altering Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program documents that stated he completed his required community service hours.

Mark Brandon Jordan, 27, of Clear Run Drive in Shrewsbury Township is charged with two counts of false swearing and one count each of tampering with public documents and perjury, according to online court documents.

He is free on $10,000 unsecured bail, the documents state.

Jordan is accused of submitting sworn, notarized documents stating he completed all 50 hours of community service he needed to complete as part of his sentence for a retail theft charge.

However, state police allege Jordan never did 24 of the 50 hours he claims he did.

Because of that, Jordan now faces a hearing for the retail theft charge on top of the new charges, said York County District Attorney Tom Kearney.

"He's back to square one on all the charges," Kearney said.

Retail theft: In July, Jordan was charged with retail theft at the Walmart in Shrewsbury Commons in Shrewsbury Township, police said.

About a month later, he was admitted into the county's ARD program, which allows first-time, nonviolent offenders to avoid conviction in exchange for completing court-ordered requirements. Defendants who enter the program are not required to admit guilt, and their record is expunged if they successfully complete the program.

Jordan was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service, and he submitted paperwork two weeks later stating he completed the time.

Jordan claims he did 24 hours of service at the Southern Branch YMCA in Shrewsbury, but police say he never completed those hours.

He is currently suspended without pay from his job at the Harford County Sheriff's Office, said Monica Worrell, spokeswoman for the department.

"As we aren't able to comment on personnel matters regarding employees, that is all I will be able to share," she said.

Jordan could not be reached for comment, and calls to an attorney who represented him on the retail theft charge were not returned.

ARD: Defendants apply for the program through the district attorney, who then evaluates the circumstances and makes a recommendation to a judge, who has the final say.

Those admitted into the program are required to perform community service and comply with any conditions set by the judge.

"It's basically a second chance," Kearney said. "It's not afforded to everybody."

The ARD program has proven to be successful. Eighty percent of those admitted into the program are never seen in the justice system again, while 20 percent fail to complete the requirements imposed by a judge as part of the program, Kearney said.

It's not often someone falsifies documents stating they've completed all the requirements -- in Jordan's case the community service hours -- needed to complete the program, the district attorney said.

"We don't see it too frequently, but when we do see it, we take action," Kearney said. "All this guy (Jordan) had to do was do his job."

-- Reach Greg Gross at ggross@yorkdispatch.com.