COWETA COUNTY, Ga. - Moonshine, drugs and guns. Investigators say they found it all inside a so-called party house right in the middle of a Coweta County neighborhood.
Investigators say they received numerous complaints about wild parties in a 2-story structure built behind a home on Mallard Overlook in Newnan. Some neighbors complained there would be loud music late at night and cars parked up and down the street.
Detectives say the owners of the home, Charles and Tamika Geter, built the $40,000 structure to have parties. "It was like a party room he had little signs up he was selling beer and candy he didn't advertise how much the moonshine was but he had it out there," says Col. Jimmy Yarbrough with the Coweta County Sheriff's Office.
Yarbrough says it was set up just like a party house. "Inside it was set up with a bar, two big screen TV's. He had a pole in the middle, we're not sure if they were using it for dancing or not." Detectives seized 26 gallons of non-tax paid alcohol (moonshine), 15 grams of cocaine, guns and 5 vehicles, including a 1958 Buick.
Some of the neighbors say the police have it all wrong. Kristen Morgan says she knew about the moonshine, but doesn't think the Geters did anything illegal. "I know a friend of mine was drinking it but I don't know if he was purchasing it," says Morgan.
Another friend, Marsha Hall says the Geters are good people, and the building behind their house was not intended to be a so-call party house. "He just wanted a place to sit, his family is so big, there are a lot of Geters," says Hall.
The Geters face a long list of charges including possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and charges related to the sale and possession of the untaxed alcoholic beverages. Mr. Geter is also charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.