16-Year-Old Arrested For Nearly 50 Grams of Marijuana

A 16-year-old student at was arrested around 7 a.m. on Tuesday April 5th for having marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

A Boca Ciega High School Campus Monitor approached the teen in his Jeep and smelled a "strong odor of marijuana". The campus monitor waived School Resource Officer Steven Beltran over. Beltran discovered approximately 47 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia. A female student was also in the Jeep and was arrested as well.

"This is the largest amount we've had at the high school in a long time. It's enough to fill a 1-quart freezer bag," Gulfport Police Sgt. Robert Burkhart.

Officials estimate the street value of the drugs to be around $300.

The 16-year-old is charged with felony possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. The maximum penalty for the felony charge is 15 years in prison.

In addition to the drugs and drug paraphernalia, the teenager's Jeep was seized in accordance with the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act (Florida Statute 932.701-706).

He was taken to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center and has since been released.