Deputies arrested six adults and a juvenile in the last few days in connection with two drug trafficking cases, and the sheriff's office issued a warning about the increased use of heroin by young adults.
An investigation by the sheriff's Street Enforcement Team, the Douglas-Carson-Lyon counties Narcotic Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Agency resulted in the arrest of five people for selling hallucinogenic mushrooms and a drug known as TFMPP, commonly referred to as "mollies" and similar to Ecstasy.
Deputies seized 200 TFMPP pills and more than 314 grams of psilocybin mushrooms.
Arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and conspiracy to violate the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act were:
• Trent Austyn Williams, 18, Wellington;
• Joshua Richard Zuganos, 18, Reno;
• David Paul Smith, 28, Reno;
• Vincent Allen Cochran, 29, Inglewood, Calif.;
Dustin Robertson, 17, of Gardnerville, appeared in juvenile court Tuesday in connection with the incident.
He admitted four allegations including two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, sales of a controlled substance and conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
He told District Judge Dave Gamble he was helping out friends, and had sold drugs before.
"I thought I was helping somebody out," Robertson told the judge.
"Would you help somebody kill somebody? Would you help somebody rape somebody?" Gamble asked. "That's what people who use mushrooms sometimes do."
Gamble set disposition for July 22. He released Robertson from detention and placed him on house arrest with electronic monitoring.
In a separate investigation, a Minden couple was arrested in connection with sales of heroin.
Investigators made several controlled purchases from the defendants.
The couple, aged 20 and 19, were charged with sales of a controlled substance and as principals to the crime of sales of a controlled substance.
Both were jailed on $25,000 cash, but his parents bailed him out, according to court records.
The defendants' vehicles were seized because they were allegedly used to transport heroin, according to reports.
Sgt. Dan Britton said the sheriff's office has seen an increase in heroin use among young adults.
"The sheriff's office is particularly concerned due to the extremely addictive nature of the drug," Britton said. "Heroin was rarely encountered locally in Douglas County in the past. Almost all those suspects using heroin locally are smoking the drug, as opposed to the conventional way of injecting it."