Townsend Police Department Charges Three Men with Drug Offenses as Result of a Search Warrant

TOWNSEND — Chief James Sartell reports that three men have been arrested and charged as a result of an investigation that began with a small fire in a Main Street building, and led to the discovery of two large-scale drug operations.

JOVENS ROSIRUS, AGE 27, OF TOWNSEND, was arrested and charged with:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class C Drug (Psilocybin Mushrooms)
• Possession of a Class C Drug
• Drug Violation in a School Zone
• Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws

JAMES ROBINSON, AGE 24, OF TOWNSEND, was arrested and charged with:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class C Drug (Psilocybin Mushrooms)
• Possession of a Class C Drug
• Drug Violation in a School Zone
• Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws

SEAN DOHERTY, AGE 22, OF TOWNSEND, was arrested and charged with:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class D Substance (Marijuana)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of a Class D Substance
• Possession of a Class C Substance
• Drug Violation in a School Zone

On Thursday, April 3, shortly before midnight, the Townsend Police and Fire Departments responded to 258 Main St., for a report of a building fire. Officer Christopher Low was first on scene and put out a small fire inside a first-floor apartment using a fire extinguisher.

Firefighters arrived and began to remove several objects that were still smoldering inside the first-floor apartment. They discovered potentially hazardous materials including several jars of what appeared to be THC Distillate Oil.

As firefighters checked the rest of the building for further fire extension, they also discovered what appeared to be a large-scale psilocybin mushroom growing operation on the home’s second and third floors, which are occupied by different tenants. As a result of the discovery of potentially hazardous materials in both apartments, Massachusetts State Police attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office were called in to investigate further. 

Townsend Police also froze the building, not allowing anyone other than fire personnel in or out, until they obtained a search warrant from Ayer District Court on the afternoon of April 4. 

The search warrant was then served by Townsend Police, with assistance from Massachusetts State Police and the Department of Fire Services Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team.

As a result of the search warrant served on the first floor, which is occupied by DOHERTY, investigators located approximately 12 pounds of marijuana, 39 small glass jars of THC Distillate Oil, 7 large glass jars of THC Distillate Oil, small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms, 294 bags of THC edibles, 3,589 THC Vape Pens, 168 THC-infused chocolate bars, $13,876 in cash, and drug distribution paraphernalia. 

As a result of the search warrant served on the second and third floors, which were occupied by ROSIRUS and ROBINSON, investigators located 40, 16-gallon clear containers that contained psilocybin mushrooms in various stages of growth, 25 large plastic bags and a clear plastic container containing dehydrated psilocybin mushrooms, a wide variety of mushroom growing equipment, 60 THC-infused chocolate bars, and a handwritten ledger noting mushroom sales, among other items.

Townsend Police later obtained arrest warrants for DOHERTY, ROSIRUS and ROBINSON, who did not remain at the scene.

All three men were taken into custody without incident over the past two weeks, and they have all been arraigned in Ayer District Court. 

“I want to thank our officers and detectives for a thorough investigation into this matter. I also want to thank Massachusetts State Police and the Department of Fire Services for their assistance,” said Chief Sartell. “This was a large-scale mushroom growing operation and a large scale, unlicensed, marijuana and THC distribution operation, both operating out of the same home on our Main Street.”

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

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