Woman pleads guilty to selling bath salts at city store

DOVER, N.H. - Jury selection in the trial of a Gonic man charged with selling bath salts at a Rochester convenience store in 2014 is set to begin this week, while his wife who was also charged has agreed to a plea deal.

Vipul and Priya Patel, who worked at Jay's Discount & Tobacco on Wakefield Street, were both indicted in November 2014 in connection with possessing and selling the drugs earlier in the year.

The charges were for class B felony drug possession, which can lead to a state prison sentence of up to seven years.

Priya Patel, who worked at the store, pleaded guilty on Friday to one charge of sale of a prohibited drug.

She was sentenced to 11 months in jail, with all of it suspended for two years on good behavior. A $350 fine was also suspended for two years. In addition, she will have to perform some community service.

Vipul Patel, her husband, was manager of the store. He also faces two felony charges including sale and possession of the bath salts and also two misdemeanors for illegally selling Viagra and Cialis.

A notice on court documents shows that a Hindu interpreter has been requested for the trial.

Bath salts comprise many different designer, synthetic drugs which when used to get high are snorted, eaten, smoked or injected.

A recent bad batch going around in Milton is suspected of having been cut with formaldehyde and has caused severe feelings of paranoia and hallucinations, requiring medical intervention and treatment, Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss said last week.

Bath salts are a schedule 1 drug and have been illegal in the United States for several years.