A Frederick man has been arrested and accused of dealing psilocybin mushrooms to a 15-year-old boy who later fell from a Boulder construction crane with the drugs in his system.

Benjamin Charles Harmon, 23, is charged with two counts of distribution of controlled substances to a minor; possession of a controlled substance; and distribution of a controlled substance.

Harmon is currently in custody on a $100,000 bond. He is set to next appear on Sept. 5 for his preliminary hearing.

According to the affidavit, Harmon had several juvenile cases including charges of third-degree assault and menacing from 2016 and possession of dangerous drugs, identified as mushrooms, in 2018.

Ames O’Neal, 15, died on June 20 after falling 145 feet from a crane on a construction site at the Limelight Conference Center and Hotel at the northeast corner of Broadway and University Avenue, according to a coroner’s report.

The autopsy found O’Neal had psilocin — a substance found in psychedelic mushrooms — in his blood, according to the report.

According to an affidavit, while investigating O’Neal’s death, police learned through video surveillance and witness statements that the teen had purchased mushrooms on June 8 in North Boulder Park.

On June 20, the boy and his friends, while at a residence, ate the mushrooms that were reported to cause auditory and visual hallucinations.

Following his death, police learned from a witness that a Snapchat user had provided the drugs to O’Neal. Police were able to access O’Neal’s Snapchat account where they found conversations with the suspected dealer dating back to Jan. 3. Police then issued a search warrant on the suspect’s Snapchat account, and identified the suspect as Harmon.

According to the affidavit, police found that Harmon was reportedly communicating with multiple Snapchat users about selling alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, mushrooms and acid.“In many of the conversations, Harmon would receive a message from a buyer asking for a specific item, and after Harmon indicated what price it was, then the buyer would give an address or location for Harmon to take the product to,” an officer wrote in the affidavit. The affidavit stated Harmon sold drugs to people in Boulder, Frederick, Broomfield, Superior and Thornton.

Police confirmed the purchase of these items through Harmon’s Venmo and CashApp records.

An undercover agent then used a Snapchat account to contact Harmon and set up a drug deal at North Boulder Park on Aug. 7 for mushrooms. Harmon agreed and sent a picture to the agent via Snapchat when he arrived at the park. Officers then contacted him and he was taken into custody.

“This 15-year-old boy should be alive today,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. “By all accounts, he was a wonderful kid with a bright future. His family and loved ones are suffering from his tragic death. Although a criminal prosecution will not fill the void left behind, I hope that this investigation and prosecution will provide his loved ones with some answers.

“In today’s world, and all too frequently, drug transactions occur through Snapchat, Venmo and other widely available apps that are used by kids and adults. I deeply appreciate that Detective Kevin Brough, the CU Police Department, the Drug Task Force, and Chief Deputy District Attorney Carlos Rueda immediately started working to investigate and identify whomever is responsible for distributing these drugs to minors. We are committed to ensuring that anyone involved in distributing drugs to kids will be held fully responsible.”