A Carbon County man was recently placed on probation for a year on a drug count 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 James Miller, 23, of 19 Hiawatha Trail, Penn Forest Township, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass on the single count after previously entering a guilty plea to reduce charges. In exchange for his plea the district attorney's office dropped 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.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 was placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on the recommendation of the district attorney's office on July 21.Miller was also ordered to obtain a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation, mental health evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.No charges have been filed in connection with the infant's death.