Jail for Arlington Hts. man in Cary mushroom bust

A 28-year-old Arlington Heights man pleaded guilty Friday to a felony drug charge stemming from the 2007 discovery of what police called a significant and sophisticated hallucinogenic mushroom growing operation in the basement of a Cary home.

Ricardo P. Montiel, of the 200 block of East Seegers Road, was sentenced to spend 10 weekends in jail and serve two years probation after admitting guilt to unlawful possession of a controlled substance under a deal struck with McHenry County prosecutors.

He also must pay a $2,500 fine and more than $2,100 in court costs.

Prosecutors dismissed six other felony drug charges, some of which included minimum six to 30-year sentences in state prison.

Montiel attorney Steven McArdle said his client remains adamant that he is innocent, but did not want to risk a long prison sentence when 10 weekends in jail and probation was on the table.

The charges stemmed from a June 2007 search of a home in the 500 block of Krenz Avenue, initially prompted by an investigation into claims a man was beaten and locked in a dog cage there during a dispute over stolen property. Montiel, among others, lived in the home owned by his parents.

During the search, Cary police said, officers discovered more than 200 grams of hallucinogenic psilocybin mushrooms as well as evidence of an extensive growing operation.

Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney David Johnston said Friday that Montiel and two co-defendants agreed weeks earlier to start the operation and purchased materials online for it.

Co-defendant Andrew C. Shedivy, 23, of Cary, was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the operation. A third co-defendant, Kevin R. Turner, 22, of Elgin, is expected to plead guilty July 17.