MIFFLINBURG -- A Union County judge has ordered Mifflinburg police to return $5,000 seized from a Mifflinburg woman's home in May during a search for drugs.

Rose W. Zechman, 45, of 515 N. Third St., Mifflinburg, was able to prove the cash she kept in a locked safe at her home was legally obtained from an insurance settlement following a vehicle accident.

The cash was seized from Zechman's home after the arrest of her daughter, Kristy Aurand, on May 13.

Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force members had been investigating Aurand, and on May 13, they arrested her following a felony traffic stop in Sunbury.

While in custody, Aurand told police that her mother was holding 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of marijuana at her home, according to a criminal complaint filed by Mifflinburg police. Armed with the information, police went to Zechman's house to secure it while officers obtained a search warrant.

Police allegedly found four bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in three rooms of the home and about $5,000 in cash inside the safe. Zechman was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

She denies knowing the drugs were in the home, which she shared with Aurand at the time, but doesn't blame her daughter for leading cops to her house.

"She never told the police officer the drugs were mine," Zechman said.

Zechman's attorney, Michael Rudinski, of Williamsport, filed a motion in Union County for the return of the money she said was received from the insurance settlement.

"I had receipts," Zechman said.

Zechman still faces misdemeanor drug charges.