WASHINGTON – A Montgomery County 11th-grader is facing drug and weapons charges after police were tipped off by hundreds of photos posted on Instagram.
The Washington Post reports 16-year-old Ethan Gettier — a student at Quince Orchard High School — allegedly dealt marijuana from his home with the apparent approval of his father, 63-year-old Darel Gettier.
According to Montgomery County police, the investigation began after detectives in July learned of photos of firearms and drugs posted by someone on social media. Charging documents cited by the Post say the younger Gettier “posted over 600 photos on Instagram showing parties he was having in the house with ample amounts of suspected marijuana and alcohol.”
Last Friday, detectives pulled over a vehicle containing several suspects in the investigation and the detectives later executed a search warrant at the Gettier home in the 12300 block of Triple Crown Road in North Potomac.
Police say they found 45 guns, a large amount of marijuana and seven people smoking the drug. Authorities say Darel Gettier also was armed with two handguns.
A related warrant executed in the 18400 block of Cottage Garden Drive in Germantown, Md., turned up more marijuana, police say.
Officials arrested the two Gettiers, along with four others whom the Post says either attended or graduated from Quince Orchard. See the specific charges below.
- possession of a firearm by a minor
- possession of marijuana
- possession of drug paraphernalia
- possession with intent to distribute CDS
- possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime
- allowing a minor access to a handgun
- keeping a disorderly house
- maintaining a common nuisance to administer CDS
- CDS distribution
- possession with intent to distribute CDS
- CDS distribution
- possession with intent to distribute CDS
- possession of marijuana (charged via criminal citation)
- possession of marijuana (charged via criminal citation)
*CDS = controlled dangerous substance
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