Federal Fugitive Found Sleeping on Couch

Early Friday morning, police arrested federal fugitive Jacob Labonte in Laconia.

Labonte, 24, was last known to reside in Gilford. He was being sought on an outstanding Belknap County Superior Court arrest warrant for failure to appear on charges of second degree assault (by strangulation), cocaine possession and resisting arrest.

As part of the U.S. Marshal’s fugitive investigation, Labonte was featured as the "Fugitive of the Week" on Dec. 12 on Patch, WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, the Union Leader and the Nashua Telegraph. That resulted in numerous tips being called and e-mailed into the task force. 

On Friday morning, a tip was called directly into the Laconia Police Department indicating that Labonte could be found at a residence on Messer Street in Laconia. Officers from the Laconia Police Department responded to that address, where Labonte was located sleeping on a couch and was arrested without incident.

Labonte was transported to the Laconia Police Department for processing and will be held at the Belknap County Jail pending his initial court appearance.

The investigation was conducted by several members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, including task force officers from the Laconia Police Department, Belknap County Sheriff’s Office and deputy U.S. Marshals.