Woman accused of growing shrooms, weed north of Rockingham

ROCKINGHAM — Investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office have charged a woman booked on a DWI with multiple drug charges after allegedly finding mushrooms and marijuana growing at her home.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to 117 Shaw Lane, north of Rockingham, in the early morning hours of June 23 in response to a domestic disturbance “and information regarding possible illegal drug activity.”

During the investigation, deputies reportedly were told that psilocybin mushrooms, commonly referred to as “shrooms,” were being grown inside the home. The deputies also reportedly saw marijuana plants growing in the backyard.

Investigators reportedly obtained a search warrant, which was served by patrol deputies and the Community Impact Team around 2:52 a.m.

(NOTE: A copy of the search warrant was not available via online court records at the time of writing.)

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies found the following items during the search:

• Four plastic totes of active psilocybin grow jars
• Jars of processed psilocybin
• Additional psilocybin stored in the kitchen
• Digital scale and scale weight
• Five potted marijuana plants at the back of the garden
• A gun safe containing four long guns, two handguns, three jars of psilocybin “in ready-to-use form,” and $1,840 in cash

According to an arrest warrant, deputies found a total of 122.5 grams of psilocybin and 556 grams of marijuana.

Deputies charged 44-year-old Amanda Evelyn Anderson with: possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule I controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance; manufacturing a Schedule I controlled substance; manufacturing a Schedule VI controlled substance; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The sheriff’s office says Anderson had been arrested earlier by the N.C. State Highway Patrol. Court records show she was charged with driving while impaired, after breathalyzer results showed a blood alcohol content level of 0.17.

Anderson is being held on a combined $30,500 secured bond. She is scheduled to appear in court July 9 on the drug charges and July 15 on the DWI charge.

Records show Anderson has no other pending charges or prior criminal history in North Carolina.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

“The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Community Impact Team remains committed to identifying and disrupting illegal drug activity throughout the county,” reads a press release. “Anyone with information regarding narcotics activity is encouraged to contact the Community Impact Team.”