BUTLER TWP - A township couple told police that 66 suspected marijuana plants found outside their Vogel Road home were for medicinal purposes.

But health reasons or not, Donald and Angela Papin face preliminary hearings in September on drug-related charges.

Township police charged the couple after the Papins' landlord discovered what he believed were marijuana plants inside a shed on the defendants' rental property.

The landlord on July 12 had gone to the shed for tools he uses on his 20-acre adjoining farm on Vogel Road when he came upon the plants, according to court documents.

Police were called and confirmed the landlord's sighting. Inside the shed were 34 suspected marijuana plants about 3 feet tall and in small potting containers.

Officers left and obtained a search warrant; however, when they returned to the shed, the Papins were there but the plants were gone.

The Papins claimed there were unaware of any suspicious plants.

Police traced "drag marks" from the shed to a road water runoff area. Near a ditch, officers discovered 32 additional suspected marijuana plants.

But those plants were in larger potting containers and weren't the same as the ones from the shed, documents said.

A further search revealed a large, plastic garbage bag in a thick tree and brush line near the defendant's home. The bag contained the plants earlier found in the shed, police said.

Police told the couple they would be charged by summons from District Justice Kevin O'Donnell.

"It was at this time that Donald (Papin) advised that the marijuana was only for medicinal purposes, due to Angela being a cancer patient, and that (Donald) is in constant pain."

Police Sgt. John Hays said Donald Papin, 43, told police his pain is attributable to a prior accident.

Police could not confirmed if Angela Papin, 44, suffers from cancer.

The Papins could not be reached for comment.

Donald Papin is charged with the manufacture of a controlled substance, conspiracy, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Angela Papin is charged with conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance.

The couple faces a hearing on Sept. 21 before O'Donnell.