Candace Kelly

SAXONBURG — Candace Kelly knits, sews and cooks. She sings the triumphs of organic food.

In a flowered smock with a lacy neckline, the 64-year-old Buffalo Township resident could be anybody’s grandma.

But this particular senior citizen stands accused of trafficking hundreds of pounds of marijuana from her Kepple Road home. She faces a short list of serious drug charges, including three felonies that could net significant jail time.

Her defense attorney Jeffrey Wasak of Pittsburgh said he’s “cautiously optimistic this will end favorably for Ms. Kelly.”

On his advice, Kelly Wednesday gave up her right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Sue Haggerty. Kelly may now either enter a plea or have a trial.

Wasak would not comment on the allegations or the planned defense. But he said, “The prosecution has the advantage and luxury of preparing their case before charging any person. At this point in a prosecution, by nature of the process, the defense is in a catch up posture.”

Court records in the case allege Kelly had been selling as much as 100 pounds of marijuana a year since 2009. She’s accused of receiving three shipments of 30 to 40 pounds of marijuana per year, which she allegedly sold for $3,400 per pound.

Police allegedly seized from Kelly’s home 64 pounds of marijuana, as well as pounds of psychedelic mushrooms and hashish and $392,781 in currency.

The bulk of the money, $300,000, was allegedly found in a duffel bag under Kelly’s bed. That money, investigators allege, was earmarked to pay a supplier.

Charges originally were filed by the Butler County District Attorney’s Office. But the charges were dropped a month later and the case was turned over to the state Attorney General’s Office, which convened a grand jury.

Based on the grand jury’s recommendation, Kelly is charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession with intent to deliver psilocybin mushrooms, possession of marijuana, possession of psilocybin mushrooms, criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Attorneys, grand juries and television news crews visiting her back yard seem to disquiet Kelly. While waiting for her court appearance Wednesday, she sat with her hands folded in her lap and quietly chatted with her daughter Jessica, who kissed her forehead.

“I’m really not that interesting. I raised a bunch of kids and cooked,” said Kelly, who wore her gray hair in a side braid.

Having been raised in Michigan, Kelly lived in West Virginia before being lured to Pennsylvania for a good job opportunity for her husband. She said she worked at Frankfort Farm’s Warehouse before spending a handful of years as personal chef for Reldon Cooper, who had been mayor of Saxonburg.

Later, she took a job at a local personal care home and stayed there until 2008, when her 37-year-old daughter, Rhonda, died of a heart attack. She then retired to raise two of Rhonda’s three children.

She says she has made clothes, and she knits and sews, cooks and gardens.

“I can do just about anything,” Kelly said.

And, she said, having grown up with what she calls a “depression era mentality,” organic food has always been more of a lifestyle than a trend. “Food is your best defense.”

Like her lawyer, Kelly made no statements about the case against her. And she said nothing while in Haggerty’s courtroom.

“She’s holding up as well as anyone could given the pressure and stress of being under a criminal charge,” Wasak said. “She continues to be optimistic.”