Santa Fe County sheriff deputies arrested a 23-year-old man Wednesday afternoon on drug charges after finding 15 marijuana plants growing in a backyard greenhouse at his La Cienega home.

In addition to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, Paul Lucero of 26B Nancy's Trail was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (psilocybin mushrooms) and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Solomon Romero, a narcotics agent, went to the property southwest of the city after someone told the police about "a possible marijuana plantation" there, according to court documents. Romero said he peered into the backyard and saw a "makeshift greenhouse" with pot plants inside.

After obtaining a search warrant, detectives found a bag of psilocybin mushrooms and smoking pipes in Lucero's room, in addition to the 15 marijuana plants in the backyard.

Lucero said the mushrooms and pipes were his, "but denied any knowledge of the marijuana plants growing in the backyard," according to court documents.

Lucero was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana because the amount was less than 8 ounces.

Lucero had no record of offenses except for an expired vehicle registration a couple of years ago, according to the New Mexico Courts online records.

Santa Fe County Undersheriff Robert Garcia said this is the point in the growing season when marijuana plants are maturing and a regional narcotics task force is flying over northern counties looking for green patches in unusual places.

"We know people have gardens, but a green patch in the middle of nowhere, that's something the task force looks for," Garcia said.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.