CRANBERRY TWP — Teenage drama took a bizarre twist last month when a mother allegedly plotted to frame her daughter’s former friend as a drug dealer.

Traci Pitt, 42, of Cranberry Township is charged with burglary-overnight accommodation with no person present, criminal trespassing, possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and possession of a controlled substance.

According to a criminal complaint, police were contacted Oct. 8 by administrators at North Catholic High School about a suspicious phone call they received. The call from an anonymous woman indicated a 14-year-old student was selling marijuana to other students.

Administrators searched that student’s backpack and found a marijuana cigarette, the complaint states. Officers spoke with the student’s parents, who said they had found a similar cigarette in their garage the previous Friday.

In an interview with the Butler Eagle on Tuesday, the victim’s mother said she did not believe the cigarette belonged to her daughter or her daughter’s friends, who had stayed at the house that Friday. She said she spoke with her daughter about the discovery that night.

When she was contacted by police, the victim’s mother said she had reason to believe the cigarette was planted by Pitt. The complaint states officers were able to trace the anonymous call back to Pitt, and questioned her Oct. 10.

According to the complaint, Pitt admitted to going to the victim’s home when she knew no one would be there. Pitt knew the garage keypad code and was able to gain entry, the complaint states. She allegedly told police she put one cigarette in the victim’s backpack and another on the table in plain sight.

According to the complaint, Pitt told officers she believed the victim was “not being kind to her own daughter” and was hoping the victim would be punished once the marijuana was found. She also allegedly admitted to calling the school because she also wanted the victim to be suspended or expelled and removed from school activities.

Pitt was arraigned Oct. 25 and released on her own recognizance. She waived the charges for court Friday during a preliminary hearing before District Judge David Kovach. A Dec. 18 formal arraignment is scheduled before Judge William Shaffer.

On Tuesday, the victim’s mother told the Butler Eagle she and her family had traveled with Pitt and her daughter to athletic competitions and other events. She said she gave Pitt and her daughter the keypad code because the daughter would often stay at the home, and were essentially like family. She said she was shocked by the alleged plot.

“You would never think that would happen with your friends,” she said.

The victim’s mother said she was happy the administration at North Catholic was quick to investigate the matter. She said administrators indicated they felt the call and the accusation were suspicious almost immediately.

She added she does not intend to file a lawsuit, and her daughter simply wants to see Pitt punished for her alleged actions.