Following an investigation by the Linton Police Department, a Linton man has been charged with dealing psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana.

Hammer Aaron Joseph Parker, 27, Linton, was arrested by Officer Alan Jackson of the Linton Police Department on Friday, April 1, on a warrant that was issued on March 30 following an investigation by Detective Logan Hobbs of the Linton Police Department.

Parker was on probation in another case in Sullivan County when his probation officer received information that Parker was dealing marijuana and methamphetamine out of his home located in Linton. The probation officer contacted the Linton Police Department on March 18 and Detective Hobbs and Officer Davis Aerne responded to Parker's home located on F St NE in Linton. Parker was not home at the time but when they knocked on the door, Emily Bennett opened the door and said Parker was at work. The officers reported they could smell the odor of marijuana emanating from inside the home.

When Detective Hobbs went inside to do a safety sweep and make sure no other individuals were there, he reported seeing a clear glass jar half-full of a green plant material just sitting on a coffee table in the living room, along with a grinder and an ashtray with a partially burnt hand rolled cigarette as well as plates and bowls containing residue. Detective Hobbs asked for a search warrant which was approved.

During the search by Detective Hobbs and Officer Aerne, they seized the glass jar of green plant material and then they found a large plastic tote, with Parker's name on it, containing a clear plastic bag of green/brown plant material, a plastic vacuum sealed bag containing green/brown plant material labeled “Cali cultivated Acapulco gold sativa dominant hybrid 453G flower cannabis.”

The officers reported they also found a vacuum sealed bag containing a large quantity of white/black/brown fungi material believed to be psilocybin mushrooms. In addition, they located a digital scale with white residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine, an unopened cardboard box bearing the brand name of “Hybrid MKX” and model name “Grease Monkey” - a vaporizer cartridge marked to have 71.4% total THC, five unopened “Muha Meds” brand “1000 mg Indica” vaporizer cartridges and a smoking device with burnt plant residue in the bowl.

Other evidence seized from the residence included a CZ brand P-10F pistol chambered for 9 millimeter ammunition with a magazine inserted that contained 13 - 9 mm Luger rounds of ammunition, and a book titled “Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture” along with several plastic bowls, grinders and sandwich bags on his coffee table.

The bag of fungi material weighed approximately 100 grams. The bag of plant material labeled 453G is believed to indicate the correct weight for that substance.

Detective Hobbs said the quantity of psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana located in Parker's residence was far more than a personal use quantity and the presence of scales and smaller bags along with the anonymous tip indicated that Parker was dealing both marijuana and psilocybin.

A criminal case was filed against Parker on March 30 and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same day. He was taken into custody by Officer Jackson on April 1 and at 12:26 a.m., he was booked into the Greene County Jail where he was held without bond pending court appearance.

When Parker appeared in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing on April 5, a public defender was appointed to represent him and his bond was set at $48,500 surety with 10% cash allowed.

Parker has been charged with:

• Dealing in a schedule 2 controlled substance with weight at least 28 grams, a Level 2 felony,

• Dealing in marijuana weighing between 30 grams and 10 pounds, a Level 6 felony,

• Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Parker has not yet posted bond and he remains in the Greene County Jail. In addition, a warrant has been issued for his arrest in Sullivan County.