Rochester woman indicted on two counts of making threats with firearm, ax

Sarah Rawlins (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester woman accused of threatening another woman with an ax and firearm as well as smashing all the windows of her car is facing more than 20 years in state following her indictment by a Strafford County grand jury last month.
Sarah Rawlins, 35, with a last known address of Court Street, Rochester, is charged with two counts of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon: one for "attempting to hit here with an ax" and a second for telling another person who was present at the Oct. 22 incident to "give me the gun and I'll shoot," according to an affidavit filed in connection with the case by Rochester Police.
The confrontation, which began over a dispute over possessions said to be missing, took place between several people at a Glenwood Avenue address in Rochester.
The affidavit doesn't make clear whether the window smashing took place before or after the alleged threats, but at some point Rawlins is accused of smashing all the windows of a VW sedan with an ax, while there was someone in the vehicle, the affidavit states.
When taken into custody Rawlins was observed to have an "injury to her right hand, consistent with cutting her hand on glass," according to the affidavit.
Each felony carries a three and a half to seven year prison sentence and a $4,000 fine.
The January grand jury indictments were handed down on Jan. 19 and made public on Jan. 31.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt, rather that enough evidence has been brought forward to warrant a trial.
If no plea deal is reached Rawlins' trial is set to begin with jury selection on Oct. 2.