Michael Danny can't say whether he learned anything the July night police arrested him at his Monroeville home for bloodying his wife's nose and arms and choking his 18-year-old daughter.

Mr. Danny, a Marine Corps veteran who works in roofing and construction, can't say whether his guilty plea to simple assault and harassment charges yesterday marked a moment for change.

But the 47-year-old who has a history of heavy drinking said "it can't hurt" that during his two years' probation he will get special oversight through a new diversionary sentencing program in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

Mr. Danny was one of a handful of defendants who appeared in court yesterday for the first official day of Veterans Court before Judge John A. Zottola. The special adjudication program, which eventually will take place every second Wednesday afternoon, began this week in honor of Veterans Day.

The county program joins about 10 nationwide that identify veterans once they enter the criminal justice system -- as long as their offenses meet certain criteria -- for comprehensive supervision, treatment and review while they are on probation. Defendants are ineligible if they are charged with homicide, rape or drug dealing, for example.

But, at prosecutors discretion, the program may adjudicate individuals charged with crimes like drug possession, retail theft, receiving stolen property or simple assault -- as in Mr. Danny's case -- if the victims are amenable.

Judge Zottola said the program is partly modeled after Mental Health Court, which he also runs each week. He said the program intersects with defendants' lives at a turning point "where you figure your resources are best placed at getting a bang for your buck." The individuals plead to the crimes and then transition to probation and treatment programs.

The idea is to check in with them regularly and, through programs and monitoring, help them get their lives on track and prevent them from re-offending.

The Veterans Court also adds what Al Mercer, of the Veterans Leadership Program, calls a key element: Every defendant who opts to be in the diversionary program will be assigned a fellow veteran as a volunteer mentor, whose job it will be to coach the defendant through the process.

So when the court's minute clerk called Mr. Danny's case yesterday, his lawyer stood at his side. There was also a social worker from the Department of Veterans Affairs and James Snider, a disabled Air Force veteran who was assigned to be Mr. Danny's mentor.

If Mr. Danny complies with the terms of his probation, which include substance abuse treatment and anger management, he could be released early from probation. His mentor will be there to help him through the rough spots.

Mr. Danny's wife, Barbara, teared up when she spoke about his addiction.

"I just want it gone. His dad drank, too. He went to AA, and it didn't work," she said.

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