City transient racks up five charges in two weeks that could put him in stir 48 years

Matthew Joseph Anderson (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A local transient is accused of an August crime spree in the city of Rochester for which he is facing up to 48 years in a New Hampshire state prison if convicted on all counts.
Matthew Joseph Anderson, 36, began his spree on Aug. 19 when he accosted a man in Rochester while seeking to rob him of cash.
During the alleged assault he struck the victim twice in the face, then threatened him with what the victim thought to be a knife as he was told to empty his pockets, according to court documents.
A week later Anderson is said to have received stolen property when he took possession of a Honda moped, prosecutors say he knew was stolen.
That same day he was found with the controlled drug fentanyl in his possession. The drug possession charge, alone, calls for a seven and a half to 15-year prison sentence since he had prior convictions, while the receiving stolen property charge which also had priors, calls for a three and a half to seven year prison stint.
The December grand jury indictments were handed down on Dec. 19 and released to the public earlier this week.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt, rather that enough evidence has been presented to a grand jury to move forward to trial.