A 17-year-old Flathead High School graduate has been charged with two counts of felony distribution of dangerous drugs for allegedly giving marijuana-laced brownies to others before a graduation party.

Connor Thomas is accused of selling the brownies to two Glacier High School graduates prior to the June 4 all-night Crosstown Craze graduation party at The Summit in Kalispell, according to court documents.

Thomas — a 4.0 student, one of Flathead’s valedictorians and an athlete who excelled in football, track and wrestling — was arrested and released after six other party attendees exhibited signs of intoxication, according to police.

Earlier that day, Thomas had graduated summa cum laude from Flathead.

The Flathead County Attorney’s Office filed the charges in District Court on Thursday afternoon and requested a transfer hearing to determine whether Thomas will be charged as an adult or a juvenile.

Two 17-year-old boys identified Thomas as the person who made and sold the brownies, according to court documents. When questioned by Kalispell Police Office Jason Parce, Thomas allegedly admitted making them.

Thomas, who has committed to play football at Montana State University, told Parce that he realized afterwards that he had put “way too much” marijuana in the brownies while preparing them at home, according to court documents.

Parce said after the arrest that the issue came to light when a panicked 17-year-old Glacier graduate showing symptoms of intoxication approached him at about 11 p.m.

“[He] was in distress and his face was pale,” according to court documents.

The boy alerted Parce to another 17-year-old boy who appeared to be having a medical emergency. Several students told the officer that the youth had consumed marijuana brownies in the parking lot, prompting Parce to summon paramedics to the scene.

Both youths later told police that Thomas had sold them brownies for $15 on June 3, the day before graduation.

One of the boys said he saw baggies of marijuana belonging to Thomas with the label, “White Widow.”

Thomas would not say where he got the marijuana, according to court documents.

A total of six 17-year-old graduates — in addition to Thomas — were sent home from the community party with their parents after showing symptoms that included confusion, hallucinations, increased heart rates, perspiration and garbled speech, according to police.

Thomas has not yet been arrested on the felony charges, which carry broad sentencing possibilities ranging from one year to life in the Montana Department of Corrections or Montana State Prison.

It is unclear how the charges will affect Thomas’ status at Montana State University, where he was expected to play alongside his older brother, Tyler. An athletic department spokesman at MSU had not returned a late afternoon phone call as of press time.

It’s not the first legal trouble involving marijuana for Thomas.

His mother, Mary Thomas, sued the Kalispell School District last year after Thomas was removed from the Flathead football team for allegedly violating the school’s chemical-use policy. Thomas was one of four football players suspended from the team after a Sept. 22 traffic stop in Kalispell that led to the discovery of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Thomas, who was driving the vehicle during a lunchtime break, denied inhaling marijuana or owning any of the devices used to smoke it. Another student in the vehicle claimed ownership and received a citation, according to court documents.

“I believe there is no evidence that I physically possessed or consumed marijuana or paraphernalia,” Thomas wrote in an affidavit attached to the lawsuit.

His attorney Sean Hinchey argued that the district’s policy deprived Thomas of his due process and equal protection rights. He wrote in the filing that Thomas’ suspension from the team led to the loss of a full-ride scholarship to play football at Oregon State University. The 6-foot-5-inch, 260-pound player had made a verbal commitment to play for the Beavers.

District Judge Katherine Curtis issued a preliminary injunction ordering that Thomas be reinstated on the team until the lawsuit reaches a conclusion. No hearings have been set since and a trial has not been scheduled in the civil case.

Thomas finished out his senior season on the Braves football team.

During his time at Flathead High School, Thomas accumulated numerous accolades in football, wrestling and track.

He finished third at the Class AA State Wrestling Tournament in his sophomore and junior years. He was a first-team all-state selection as an offensive lineman and a second-team all-conference defensive tackle honoree, both in 2009, and was the 2010 Class AA shot put champion.

During his senior season, he was an honorable mention selection to the Class AA All State football team both as an offensive and defensive lineman.

As a senior, he placed third in the heavyweight division in state wrestling and fourth in shot put at state track.

Academically, Thomas was one of seven Flathead High seniors who achieved all A’s during all four years of high school. 

Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at eschwartz@dailyinterlake.com.