Cell Phone Photos Lead To Pot Bust
BY ROBIN SMITH Staff Writer
Thursday August 23, 2007


NEWPORT CITY VERMONT
A cell phone that contained pictures of a home-grown marijuana operation ended up in the hands of law enforcement officers last week, leading to the arrest of a Troy man.

Peter Ste. Marie, 22, pleaded innocent Tuesday in Orleans District Court to felony marijuana cultivation, records show.

Judge Christina Reiss set bail at $100. Ste. Marie was released on bail, records show.

Orleans District Court

Ste. Marie admitted to growing about 20 plants for his personal use and not for sale, according to an affidavit by Orleans County deputy sheriff Daniel Locke.

The sheriff's department launched an investigation when a cell phone with pictures of marijuana was turned into the department.

A person who was staying in the Jay area found a cell phone and checked for pictures on it to see if that would identify the owner, Locke said.

When the person, who is unnamed in affidavits, saw pictures of marijuana, he or she turned the cell phone over to the sheriff's department on Aug. 13, Locke said.

The tipster also said that there were plants growing off Stevens Mills Road in Jay near where the cell phone was found, Locke said.

Locke saw about 30 plants growing on the land. Locke said he used a search warrant to seek Ste. Marie.

Relatives of Ste. Marie told law enforcement officers that he had lost a cell phone, Locke said.

Marijuana plants were growing on land owned by Ste. Marie's grandmother, Locke said.

Ste. Marie said in his statement to Locke on Aug. 16 that his grandmother didn't know about the marijuana, Locke said.

Ste. Marie asked for consideration because this is his first drug offense and because he cooperated with law enforcement, Locke said.

So basically don't leave your cell phone
lying around with pics of plants...got it...

So this "unidentified woman" was looking through the pictures.. why? When you find a phone you look in CONTACTS for mom or home or something, I don't know what the pictures would give you. And this "tipster" also magically knew about more plants already growing somewhere else? Sounds like someone he knew. What a bitch.

Damn that reminds me of................better erase mine

Donnieosmond is on it. Shame certain authorities are allowed to abstract the truth, but when we do it, it's a crime and get put into jail. What is it called obstruction of justice.

Yeah def. someone he knew who probably stole his phone and turned it in. Dont tell me the kid was growing them on his grandmas front lawn. Narcs should be hung from a tree by their balls.