Staff reports
Thursday, March 24, 2016 9:00 am
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DOVER, N.H. - The Rochester woman police say tried to burglarize two downtown Dover businesses and assaulted an employee of one of those businesses with a hammer when he detained here has been indicted.
According to Dover police, Vanessa Bentley, 36, of 10 Ella Court A, tried to break into Downtown Discount Beverages and later succeeded at Janetos Market early the morning of Jan. 6.
An employee of the market reportedly found Bentley inside the store at 6:15 a.m. and was injured as he detained her when she allegedly struck him on the back of the neck with a hammer. Police also discovered a broken window at the store.
The indictment also alleges Bentley burglarized Downtown Discount Beverages around 5 a.m. the same morning. At the time of the arrest Dover Police said she smashed a front window, but was unable to gain entry into the store.
The two burglary counts and one second-degree assault charge could land Bentley in state prison for up to 21 years.
At the time of her arrest she was also charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, but no indictment was forthcoming this month on the possession charge.
The Strafford County grand jury indictments were handed down March 17 and released on Wednesday.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that a grand jury has found sufficient evidence to move forward to trial.