KINGMAN –A three-year prison sentence has been ordered for a man who produced illegal mushrooms in his Kingman home. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle imposed sentence Feb. 6 after defense attorney Thomas Dean presented more than an hour of mitigation in an unsuccessful bid to secure a probation outcome for Justin Porter, 45.
Porter and his girlfriend Nancy Fournier, 45, entered separate plea agreements following a Nov., 2024 search of their home in the 2700 block of Pasadena Avenue.
Officers found mushrooms growing in the master bedroom closet and harvested strains of mushrooms in various stages of production within the residence. Illegal mushrooms in a 32 oz. jar were seized, and officers also found incriminating sales related communication within a confiscated cell phone.
Authorities deemed Fournier less culpable and her plea deal resulted in a 20-day jail, four-year probation sentence.
Attempting to show that his client is a man changed for the better, Dean presented character input from Porter’s son, friends, pastor and his boss at work.
“I know that growing, possessing and selling is completely illegal,” Porter said. He told the court that he regretted letting down his employer, son, community and others.
Judge Carlisle said he respected the defendant’s commitment to sobriety, given substance abuse struggles dating back to 2005. He said four previous felony convictions were important considerations in arriving at this three-year prison decision.
Dave Hawkins
