A California man accused of leaving psychedelic mushroom gummies out for trick-or-treaters is getting an unusual defense from his daughter, who claims neighbors have been out to get him because they think his home is a “witch house.”
Devilyn Foster insists her father, Shawn Michael Foster, 45, is being unfairly targeted by residents who dislike the property’s spooky appearance.
“There’s people in the neighborhood who don’t like how the house appears, and think that it’s the ‘witch house’ or that something bad,” she told NBC 7. “So I am willing to bet that specific people have it out for them.”
Her unusual defense comes as San Diego police investigate reports that at least 15 children, ranging from toddlers to 6-year-olds, picked up bags of psychedelic mushroom gummies outside the family’s Ocean Beach home on Halloween.
One horrified father, Frank Cary, said his 2-year-old son grabbed a package before he realized what was inside.
“My 2-year-old went up and grabbed one and started walking away with it in his hand,” Cary told the TV station. “I noticed the picture had a giraffe and words that looked like they were melting. I took it out of his hand and saw that there was a dosage on the front of it. Five grams, Then I flipped it around and read ‘psilocybin mushrooms.’”
Parents turned the packages over to police, who later confirmed they contained psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms.
But the candy wasn’t the only alleged discovery at the property.
A search of the property on the 2100 block of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard allegedly uncovered more than 2.5 pounds of cannabis, 25 grams of crystal methamphetamine, drug-sale ledgers and packaging materials.
Investigators also allegedly found an illegally possessed rifle, ammunition and a partially assembled pistol.
Foster pleaded not guilty Friday to transporting controlled substances to a minor and two firearms-related charges.
He was arrested Wednesday alongside Michael Goff, 80, who faces a felony firearm-possession charge and has yet to be arraigned.
A judge released him on supervised bail with orders to avoid minors, stay within San Diego County and refrain from drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Foster is due back in court Nov. 17.
