Jury takes just couple of hours to find Rochester man guilty in drug death

Richard Trueman, 41, of 31 Winter St., Rochester, listens as Assistant County Attorney Charles Vincent DeJoie makes his closing arguments at Strafford Superior Court on Thursday. (Rochester Voice photo)

DOVER - A Rochester man accused of dispensing a deadly dose of fentanyl to a Somersworth man in 2020 was found guilty by a Strafford County jury late Thursday.

Richard Trueman, 41, formerly of 31 Winter St., Rochester, now faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced.

It took the jury just a couple of hours to reach a verdict.

Keenan Skillin, 38, died as a result of ingesting the powerful synthetic opioid, which was "knowing dispensed" to him by Trueman on Sept. 29, 2020.
The trial began on Monday.

Trueman is also facing a second life sentence after a more recent charge of dispensing drugs death resulting in the death of Kayla Hartford, 27, of Rochester, who died on March 4, 2022, as a result of ingesting (fentanyl) given to her by Trueman, according to the indictment handed down by a Strafford County grand jury last August.
According to Skillin's Facebook page, he was married and had worked as a machine operator at Rand-Whitney.
Trueman has been arrested by Rochester Police some 50 times since 2001.
He is currently being held at Strafford County Jail, according to jail personnel.

Sentencings usually occur about three months after a verdict is reached.