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Boulder man sentenced after selling drugs to teenager who fell off of a crane

By August 15, 2025 | updated 3 months ago

Benjamin Harmon
Benjamin Harmon was sentenced to 35 years in prison Friday after being convicted of selling psilocybin mushrooms to multiple teenagers in Boulder, with one falling from a crane and dying while under the influence of drugs.
Courtesy of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office

A Boulder judge sentenced a 25-year-old man to 35 years in prison after he was convicted of selling psilocybin mushrooms to minors, with one falling from a crane while being under the influence of the drugs.

Boulder District Judge Dea Lindsey sentenced Benjamin Harmon to 35 years in prison Friday after the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and attempt to commit money laundering, according to a press release from the 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation into Harmon began when a 15-year-old boy died after falling from a construction crane on University of Colorado property on June 20, 2024.

The teen had been on psilocybin prior to falling off of the crane, and investigations led to identifying Harmon as the one who sold him the drugs.

The Boulder County Drug Task Force set up a fake drug deal using the deceased teen’s cellphone and Harmon showed up, according to the release.

The district attorney’s office moved the case to a Colorado grand jury, and due to the grand jury case, multiple victims came out claiming that Harmon had sold drugs to other minors.

Ultimately, investigators located 19 other minors who bought drugs from Harmon, including one who Harmon sexually assaulted, and one Harmon obtained child sexual abuse materials from, according to the district attorney’s office.

The grand jury eventually indicted Harmon on 40 counts, including 21 drug felonies for distributing psilocybin to minors and sexual assault on a child.

Harmon was arrested on Oct. 19.

“The teenager who died was loved by his family and friends. He had his whole life in front of him, until the defendant began preying upon him and other high school kids,” said District Attorney Michael Dougherty in the release. “Although this guilty plea and sentence is what the family wanted from the criminal case, the outcome will never fill the void caused by this defendant.” 

Sage Kelley

Reporter

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