WRIGHT COUNTY, Mo. — A man is facing a felony drug charge following an Aug. 8 incident near Norwood in which authorities say he admitted consuming psychedelic mushrooms.
Walker Sears is charged with possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, according to a probable cause statement filed Aug. 19 in Wright County Circuit Court.
Wright County Deputy Wyatt Kinser wrote that he was dispatched Aug. 8 to Highway E after receiving a report of a suspicious person near Norwood Stockyards. The caller reported that a younger man was trespassing on the property, removing his clothing and attempting to break into vehicles.
Kinser reported that while entering Highway E, he saw a man standing along the roadway without a shirt. The man identified himself as Sears.
According to the probable cause statement, Sears told Kinser that cattle at the sale barn were being abused and that he needed help saving them. Kinser wrote that Sears continued making statements the deputy described as things a normal person would not say and that Sears appeared convinced the cattle needed to be saved after midnight.
Kinser asked Sears whether he had consumed any intoxicating substances or illegal drugs. Sears allegedly admitted eating five or six psychedelic mushrooms that had been in his vehicle and told the deputy the bag was empty because he had eaten the remaining mushrooms.
Sears then showed Kinser the empty bag, according to the statement. Kinser reported that the bag was labeled “Luminous Lucy’s,” which he described as commonly known through research as a strain of psychedelic mushrooms. Sears allegedly told the deputy the mushrooms had been dehydrated before consumption.
Sears was arrested and transported to jail, where he was placed on a 24-hour hold for possession of a controlled substance.
A warrant was issued Aug. 19 with a $2,500 cash bond. Court records list several bond conditions, including that Sears obey all laws, refrain from possessing or consuming alcohol or intoxicating or mood altering substances, submit to random drug and alcohol testing, be supervised by Court Probationary Services, attend weekly drug counseling and remain on house arrest at a court approved residence.
During an Aug. 20 bond hearing, Sears told the court he was unable to post bond and needed a place to stay. The state reported it had not located any prior Missouri charges and indicated it would agree to sober living if Sears did not have a criminal history.
Judge Lynette B. Veenstra found that the existing bond was the least restrictive condition necessary to guarantee safety and Sears’ appearance in court.
The case is scheduled for a bond hearing and preliminary hearing setting at 9 a.m. Sept. 1 before Veenstra in Wright County Circuit Court.
Attorney James Matthew Colston entered an appearance on behalf of Sears on Aug. 20 and filed a request for discovery.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
