Dont take pictures of you plant on your cell

NEWPORT, Vt. - A cell phone containing photographs of marijuana plants fell into the hands of police, who found their way to its owner and his growing operation, authorities said.

Peter Ste. Marie, 22, was charged with felony marijuana cultivation after admitting to growing about 20 plants for his use, Orleans County Deputy Sheriff Daniel Locke wrote in an affidavit.

An unidentified person found the phone and looked for pictures on it that might lead to the owner. When the person saw the marijuana plants pictured, the phone was turned over to the Sheriff's Department on Aug. 13. When police activated the phone, it showed the owner's name and the name of his business, Locke said.

The finder also told police there were pot plants growing off Stevens Mills Road, in Jay, near where the phone was found, according to Locke, who found about 30 plants growing on land owned by Ste. Marie's grandmother.

Ste. Marie, who told authorities his grandmother didn't know about the marijuana plants, pleaded not guilty to the cultivation charge Tuesday and was released on $100 bail.

There's a lesson to be learned in the case, Locke said Thursday.

"I don't think I'd be taking pictures of illegal things on my cell phone," he said.

Second story tonight on people gettin busted. Who ever turned them in is a real asshole. Why would someone do something like that? I would be so pissed if someone done that to me.

wow
im speechless

This stuff is really so depressing.

any idea how much the dude got?

yeh w/e turned that shit in I hope their balls fall off.. but yeh shit is kinda scary, I had lost a phone with madd pix of blunts on it that I took for the blunt rolling thread in rec, kinda made me nervous, but at least if they came looking for me the blunt been smoked already lol

I don't think the moral is "Don't take pictures of illegal things on your phone", It should be don't be so careless with items of importance.

I've got over 50 pics of bud on my phone [close ups] but i've got it all hidden in folders - doesnt mean people cant find them, but i've never lost a phone, and im very careful in that respect - anyway, i've taken the pics on a plain background so theres no proof there my pics - they could be from the net for all they know.

I'd say if you taking any kind of picture/video of ANYTHING illegal make sure you dont get ANY background of ANY kind in it coz it can be identified.

Bleh..this is a shame.

I always considered my phone public for the most part. It's so easy to get into it. I'm one of those people who almost never let others look through my phone..and yet, there's always someone who does. Somehow.

Gotta be careful

That really sucks, losing a cell phone, getting it back and then being thrown in a cell. I just deleted all my pics of bud on my phone.

i would have traded the fone back for a fat sack