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"She shipped the marijuana in cereal boxes and coffee," said Butte Falls Marshal Don Leahan. "They made between $12,000 and $14,000 in marijuana sales if you take the statements of the daughter into account." Leahan said tips from community members initiated his investigation of Catherine Carlisle, who lives near Butte Falls and owns the Whistle Stop Emporium. She has not been charged with a crime. "Everybody knows she's been selling marijuana," Leahan maintained. "But nobody was doing anything. This is a big deal in a little town like this." Leahan said Carlisle's daughter, a Butte Falls postal employee, and a New Jersey investigator have given statements that Carlisle recently sent five ounces of marijuana to her daughter in two separate shipments. Advertisement Leahan said Carlisle has engaged in interstate commerce of narcotics for sale. But the Jackson County District Attorney's Office won't prosecute the case unless Butte Falls foots the bill for bringing in the out-of-state witnesses, he said. Leahan is angry the little town of Butte Falls could have to pay for prosecution. But it will, he said. "I spoke to the assistant D.A. this morning," said Leahan. "She said 'Yes, we'll prosecute. But we won't pay for the witnesses.' I said 'Then I guess the city will have to pay. We'll have a bake sale if we have to.' " Carlisle, who said she has a permit to grow marijuana for three licensed medical marijuana users, admits to illegally mailing the drug to her daughter in the past. "Yes, I have sent marijuana," said Carlisle. "We made a mistake, my daughter and I." But Carlisle denies Leahan's allegations of recent shipments. This time she is being framed, she said. "And I'll go to my grave swearing to that," Carlisle said. Thieves recently stole all of her marijuana, leaving her with nothing to ship to her daughter or offer to her marijuana patients, Carlisle said. Carlisle said she is being set up by her best friend who gave false information to an overzealous marshal who is pursuing her in a "vicious vendetta." "These people are evil," she said. "And this is a weird little town. " Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston said this is the first time a local community has offered to finance an aspect of a county prosecutor's case. "This is unprecedented in my experience," said Huddleston. Huddleston stands by his refusal to pay for plane fare and lodging for the out-of-state witnesses, saying the county, like the state, must spend its limited funds on prosecuting more serious crimes. "It's not worth spending scarce county funds on a case with this level of crime and possible punishment," said Huddleston. "It doesn't have anything to do with the municipality. We have a limited pool of money. We'd say the same thing if this was (a pending case) in Medford." Leahan said punishing Carlisle is not the issue, it's taking a stand against selling drugs. "It's against the law," he said. "How can I ignore that? And if the D.A. doesn't prosecute, they're saying it's OK." Mayor Ron Ormond said Huddleston's decision sends the wrong message to his community. Ormond said Butte Falls is full of "rumors and innuendo" about rampant drug use. "We used to have a pair of sneakers hanging over the street on some wires," said Ormond. "I was informed that meant drugs were available in the community. I don't think it's OK." Ormond said he will take the matter before council members at their Jan. 14 meeting. "I can't see the council refusing," he said. "If people are shipping marijuana, who knows what the hell else they're shipping." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. 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