Carlos Martinez, an 18-year-old student, has been put on probation and ordered to stay drug- and alcohol-free one month after being arrested in possession of a THC cartridge last month.
On Feb. 12, Martinez—a student at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School—was arrested by Haverhill Police school resource officer Jamie Landry. According to a police report, Landry was alerted to the drug offense by Assistant Principal Adam Gagne, who found another student in possession of a vape pen and THC cartridge allegedly purchased from Martinez for $35.
A subsequent search of Martinez did not yield any THC cartridges, but school officials did find him in possession of $440, money the teen said was revenue from his job at McDonald’s. Review of school surveillance footage found Martinez engaged in a “hand-to-hand transaction” with the other student just before 7:30 a.m. that morning.
During the booking process, Martinez told Landry he had two vape batteries and one THC vape cartridge inside his underwear. According to Landry, “Carlos stated he did not get any money from (the other student) today, but did give the cartridge to him,” resulting in the distribution charge.
In court Thursday, Martinez took responsibility for his behavior and the charge was continued without a finding. As part of a probation agreement, Judge Stephen Abany told Martinez he must remain in school or seek employment until his next hearing in April.