William Watson of Rochester, New Hampshire, left, and Justin Jacobs of Lebanon are being held by federal authorities on gun charges following an investigation by Maine State Police. COURTESY PHOTO/Maine State Police

LEBANON  — A pair of suspects are being held on federal gun charges following a lengthy investigation by Maine State Police stemming from a violent incident earlier this year in Lebanon.

In a social media posting, the suspects came to the attention of Maine State Troopers from Troop A in January when they responded to a home on Center Road in Lebanon for a domestic violence assault call.

In that incident, Justin Jacobs, 41, of Lebanon, allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and then rammed her vehicle with his car as she was attempting to leave the residence.

The post says that arriving at the scene, troopers observed a vehicle trying to leave the driveway. The vehicle was operated by William Watson, 33, of Rochester, New Hampshire, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was detained and taken into custody.

Troopers then located Jacobs and his vehicle that was used in the alleged crime in the front yard of the home. Jacobs was arrested for Domestic Violence Assault and Reckless Conduct with a dangerous weapon. During a search of Jacobs person, troopers allegedly found almost $16,000 in cash and suspected crystal methamphetamine on his person.

In the course of their investigation, troopers discovered a large amount of drugs and firearms. Both Watson and Jacobs are convicted felons and are not allowed to possess firearms. Search warrants for both vehicles were executed on Jan. 26 and inside the vehicles, troopers confiscated 350 grams of suspected fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine and two firearms.

Troop A then coordinated with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and on April 12, warrants were issued for Jacobs and Watson from the U.S. District Court in Portland charging them with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

Watson, a Rochester, New Hampshire suspect who ran from Maine State Police in Lebanon after they stopped his vehicle in March was apprehended in April in Rochester by Granite State authorities.

Watson had been the subject of a manhunt by authorities in Maine and New Hampshire in March when he ran from police during a traffic stop in Lebanon. He was captured by Maine state troopers on March 17 following a pursuit on Route 202 when his failed to stop for police.

Jacobs and Watson have been remanded into federal custody pending the outcome of their case.