Milton man's trial in OD death of Rochester dad begins on Tuesday

Robert Rawson ... died of fentanyl overdose in February 2018 (Courtesy photo)

DOVER - The trial of a Milton man accused of supplying the fentanyl that killed a Rochester man in February 2018 begins Tuesday in Strafford County Superior Court.

Gregory Collins, 38, of Lord Lane, is charged with acts prohibited, death resulting, a Special Felony that carries a possible life sentence.

Robert Rawson II, 28, of Rochester, died on Feb. 15, 2018, in Rochester after ingesting fentanyl allegedly supplied by Collins and another man, Peter Miltner, 28, of 14 Brookfield Drive, Rochester.

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 told The Rochester Voice last August that the case is a first-of-its-kind here in that is seeks to prosecute two individuals with a death resulting case. Velardi, who has recused himself from the case due to a staff member who has a relationship with one of the accused, inserted Deputy County Attorney Tim Sullivan as lead prosecutor.

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

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 trial is expected to get under way on Tuesday beginning with jury selection.