FERNDALE - A 69-year-old man was in jail Friday on suspicion of giving illegal drugs to teenagers and forcing them to engage in sexual acts while he filmed or photographed them, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
Gerald Micheal Martin, who lives in the Ferndale area, was accused of making pornography of teens aged from 15 to 17 after he gave them marijuana and methamphetamine, said Whatcom County Undersheriff Jeff Parks.
Martin was in possession of what appeared to be illegal drugs at the time he was arrested Wednesday, Parks said. A crime lab is testing those substances.
Detectives are still investigating the case and obtaining search warrants to track down additional evidence, so Parks declined to say what evidence the sheriff's office already has obtained. He also declined to say where the alleged crimes occurred, and whether Martin used a video camera or captured still images.
But Parks said deputies had enough evidence to arrest him and prevent anyone else from becoming a victim.
"We really don't know how many victims," Parks said.
Deputies interviewed more than one victim who came forward with the accusations, and the victims may include both boys and girls, Parks said. The sheriff's office plans to release more information next week as the investigation unfolds.
Martin was booked Wednesday into Whatcom County Jail on investigation of sexual exploitation of minors, possession of child pornography, possession of illegal drugs and providing drugs to minors.
He was being held on $250,000 bail.
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