A Wooster man who allegedly helped at least five others get started in the psilocybin mushroom business pleaded Tuesday, August 23 in Wayne County Common Pleas Court.

Brian K. Brown, 44, of 7040 Cleveland Road, pleaded guilty to five counts of illegal manufacture or cultivation of drugs and two counts of trafficking in controlled substances.

The cultivation charges are second-degree felonies and each carry up to eight years in prison. The trafficking charges are fifth-degree felonies and carry up to 12 months in prison each.

In exchange for Brown’s guilty plea, the state dismissed eight felony counts brought against him in a grand jury indictment.

The charges stem from a Medway Drug Enforcement investigation carried out between March 7 and June 6. At the conclusion of the investigation, Medway raided Brown’s residence and found evidence that Brown had been incubating mushroom spores in glass jars before transferring them to finish growing on trays. Brown prepared the dried product and chopped up the mushrooms to sell in small chocolate cakes.

Brown is believed to have assisted Bert D. Underwood, 58, of 692 Greenwood Boulevard, Wooster, Shannon M. Yeagley, 29, of 3669 E. Sterling Road, Creston, and Justin R. Graham, 27, of 140 N. Main St., Creston, in getting started with psilocybin grow operations of their own. Brown’s mother and stepfather, Ilene Bennett, 67, and Harry Bennett, 67, both of 7040 Cleveland Road, Wooster, are charged with assisting Brown. Ilene Bennett allegedly helped to prepare the mushrooms for sale.

Common Pleas Judge Corey Spitler scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28.