TOWSON, Md. -- A Harford County man who sells Christmas trees on his farm and poses as Santa for the children of his patrons has pleaded guilty to two counts of growing and possessing marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Prosecutors are seeking at least six months in jail for 62-year-old Robert Chance of Darlington, also known as "Santa Bob."
Chance is a former high school teacher and served as a Bel Air town commissioner in the 1970s. He was arrested in May after a raid at his farm turned up 19 marijuana plants, package marijuana in freezers and about an ounce of the mushrooms.
Federal authorities have threatened to seize his farm under drug forfeiture laws.
The case was moved to Baltimore County because Harford County judges were acquainted with Chance.
