Police said they found marijuana and hashish edibles including brownies, strawberry cheesecake and ice cream. They also seized scales and other items allegedly used in the production of hashish oil when they executed a search warrant June 3.
Troy Police Capt. Jeff Kunkleman said police seized 48 small containers with cheesecakes, three containers of ice cream and a couple dozen brownies. Police had been working on the investigation for a couple of months and had conducted controlled buys of the edibles from the house, he said.
The house by coincidence was located near the site of the Strawberry Festival held the weekend of the arrests. Police were told the items seized had been prepared for acquaintances visiting during the weekend, Kunkleman said.
Hearings were scheduled Friday before Judge Jeannine Pratt on motions by both Housley and Ritchie to suppress evidence in the cases. Instead, both appeared before Pratt in separate hearings and pleaded guilty to charges outlined in plea deals with prosecutors.
Housley and Ritchie both pleaded guilty to one count of felony two trafficking in drugs, hashish and two counts of felony three possession of drugs. The trafficking in drugs charges include a notation the offenses took place in the vicinity of a juvenile.
Housley’s plea agreement included a recommended sentence of five years, while Ritchie’s had a four-year sentence recommended. Prosecutors agreed to take no position on any motion for early prison release filed by Ritchie. She also agreed to a forfeit to Troy police $609 taken from her as part of the search warrant.
The charges against Ritchie and Housley carry a maximum sentence of 14 years, along with fines of $35,000 and up to a five-year license suspension.
Sentencings for both were scheduled for Nov. 28 although Housley asked through attorney Tom Merritt to be sentenced sooner, if possible.
Housley is in the county jail while Ritchie is out of jail pending sentencing after posting bail.
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