A Carbon County man recently entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of a controlled substance in a case that started as an investigation into the death of an infant but ended in a probe into a hallucinogenic mushroom growing operation.

Derek Miller, 23, of 19 Hiawatha Trail, Penn Forest Township, entered the plea before Carbon County Judge Steven R. Serfass.In exchange for the plea charges of conspiracy - manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance; manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia were dropped.Serfass accepted the plea but deferred sentencing ordering the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.Miller was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge following an incident on Nov. 6, 2015, at his residence.According to the affidavit of probable cause, troopers responded to the residence, where Miller lived with Whitney Elizabeth McVicker, when she called to report that her 3-month-old son was unresponsive. Troopers said it was later determined that the child died between 5 and 10:30 a.m. that day.As a result of that initial contact with the two, troopers obtained a search warrant later in the day for the home. The search then resulted in troopers finding a suspected hallucinogenic mushroom growing operation in the home.The mushroom operation consisted of an active plastic hydroponic grow box discovered in the first-floor closet located off the southwest corner of the main entry door foyer and a second plastic grow box was located in a second floor hallway closet next to the infant's bedroom, troopers said.Also, 12 jars containing psyllium growth medium were collected and seized from the scene. A laboratory report on the items found, the affidavit states, indicated that two growth cakes, obtained from the jars containing psyllium growth medium seized at the residence, were maintained in a moist environment and allowed to continue their growth cycle at the Bethlehem state police laboratory for a period of two weeks.McVicker was also charged with the same offenses as Miller. She has applied for placement in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program with the recommendation of the district attorney's office. That application will be heard by Serfass on July 21 at 9 a.m.No charges have been filed in connection with the infant's death.