During sentencing, Salina man admits he's been high

October 20, 2011|By Kim Hynes & Karl Man | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(SALINA,Kan) — A Salina man will go to prison for illegally selling potpourri. A judge sentenced Eric Srack Thursday to 30 months plus probation.

Srack used to own The Grind in Salina. Authorities raided the store earlier this year because of the potpourri drug. The chemicals used in the potpourri were added to the controlled substance list in Kanas July first. Investigators testified during trial that Srack's potpourri did contain the illegal substance.

Before sentencing, his defense attorney asked for a re-trial because a juror was sick during part of the deliberations. The judge refused to do that but he reduced the three drug charges against Srack to only one felony charge.

The judge gave Srack time to address the court. Srack said he was not trying to do anything illegal and that he's sorry. He also pointed out Jim Norton of the Salina Drug Task Force.

"I spent...and he, he, he probably knows...that I spent the last year high," Srack admitted.

"I'm pleased with a 30 month prison sentence," said Norton. "That's what the law allows. I believe the drugs are an immense danger to the community."

When Eyewitness News spoke with Norton earlier this year he called the sale of potpourri "the worst drug problem he had ever seen”.

Now that Sack is headed for prison and “The Grind” is closed Norton says the drug isn’t gone from the community, but it’s certainly drying up.

“I’m not going to say we waived a magic wand and it all went away that’s not the case, we believe it is diminished and the public is safer than it was a year ago.”

The defense says it will now file an appeal. The Srack family was on hand in the courtromm, they did not wish to comment to our cameras.

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