HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A local man who at one time operated a convenience store and entered a plea in the criminal case against him was granted one year of probation, with an underlying sentence of 11-months.

Chris Patel was accused of selling items he believed were stolen from Dillon’s and being in possession of K-2.

He entered pleas to possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of stolen property and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. The state dropped a charge of possession of K-2 with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school and no drug tax stamp.

Police say Patel, the owner of the Zip Trip Foods at 200 E. Ave. A, was purchasing what he believed to be stolen goods from a member of Kroger’s organized retail crime unit. The stolen goods included cases of Red Bull energy drinks, Tide laundry detergent and cigarettes.

Patel had made numerous purchases, then stored the items in another building. The items were secretly marked and eventually showed up on his store shelves. A search warrant of Patel’s home turned up more items as well as 45 bags of K-2.

This was a presumptive probation case with the sentence handed down by Judge Trish Rose.