Harrison Thorp
Thursday, August 30, 2018 8:59 am

Robert Rawson II ... father of two died of tragic overdose in February. (Courtesy photo)

DOVER - For the first time ever in Strafford County, prosecutors are looking to convict two individuals for allegedly supplying the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl to a Rochester man who died of an overdose in February.

Gregory Collins, 38, of Lord Lane, Milton; and Peter Miltner, 28, of 14 Brookfield Drive, Rochester, are both charged with acts prohibited, death resulting, a Special Felony that carries a life sentence.

Robert Rawson II, 28, of Rochester, died on Feb. 15, after ingesting fentanyl supplied by Miltner and Collins in Rochester, prosecutors say.

According to Rawson's obituary, he grew up in Rochester and Dover and attended Dover High. He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.

Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi on Wednesday said the case is a first-of-its-kind here. Velardi, who has recused himself from the case due to a staff member who has a relationship with one of the accused, said Deputy County Attorney Tim Sullivan would be lead prosecutor.

Speaking in generalities, Velardi said the case will likely focus on the chain of custody of the drug alleged to have caused Rawson's death.

He said prosecution of such cases can be complex, including if one of the two defendants decides to cop a plea while the other goes to trial.

According to the indictment documents, both Miltner and Collins are accused of "dispensing a quantity of ... fentanyl to Richard Rawson, and subsequently Rawson ingested the drug and died."

The Strafford County grand jury indictments were handed down Aug. 16 and released last week.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that enough evidence has been presented to a grand jury to warrant a trial.