February 10, 2012 at 7:59 p.m.
Dalka preliminary hearing to be continued next week
Dalka preliminary hearing to be continued next week
By Heather Schaefer-heather@rivernewsonline.com
Patrick R. Dalka, 34, appeared before Judge Patrick O'Melia for a preliminary hearing Friday afternoon on charges of possession and delivery of MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone, a substance commonly found in the designer drug known as bath salts) and child neglect.
According to the National Institutes of Health website, bath salts is a common name for a powerful, designer stimulant drug that mimics the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. It is believed the name bath salts is used because the substance looks similar to bath salts commonly used for soaking in bathtubs.
The state called one witness during Friday's portion of the preliminary hearing, Det. Sgt. Teri Smoczyk of the Oneida County Sheriff's Office.
Smoczyk testified Dalka admitted during a custodial interview he used a substance called bath salts but believed the substance he was using and sharing with others was legal.
"Mr. Dalka stated he had done research and the substance he was using was not the illegal part of bath salts," Smoczyk said. "He said bath salts that he knew were illegal contained a substance that started with an 'm' and the bath salts he was using contained a substance that started with an 'a'."
Smoczyk later testified that all analogs of 4-MMC (4-methylmethcathinone) and MDPV, substances commonly found in bath salts, are illegal in Wisconsin.
Following Smoczyk's testimony, the state requested an adjournment until next week so another officer, who was unavailable due to a family emergency, could testify.
The defense did not object and the hearing was scheduled to continue Feb. 17.
The complaint against Dalka indicates police began investigating him after his wife asked authorities to search her vehicle for explosives. The complaint states Dalka's wife told authorities her husband told her he put two quarter sticks of dynamite in her car. She also told officers her husband has been "hallucinating in the middle of the night for no explainable reason" and had advised her he is the "middle man" for drug dealing.
According to the complaint, Dalka was charged with child neglect after witnesses told officers he took his pajama-clad infant son outside in subzero temperatures while high on bath salts.
Dalka is being held on $2,500 cash bail. He faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at heather@rivernewsonline.com.
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