MACHIAS – Two men were arrested late Monday on similar but separate charges of drug trafficking in Washington County.

Sharley Fitzsimmons, 42, of Lubec and David Townsend, 21, of Baileyville each were picked up by sheriff’s deputies at their respective homes on Christmas Eve.

Both had been the subject of ongoing investigations by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agencies, Sheriff Donnie Smith said Wednesday.

Fitzsimmons, charged with Class B unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, and Townsend, charged with Class A aggravated unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, are being held at the Washington County Jail in Machias pending an initial court appearance.

Fitzsimmons actually was arrested in late November on violation of conditions of release and was supposed to be held at the jail until drug trafficking charges could be assessed, Smith said.

Because the proper paperwork was not filed by the district attorney’s office, Fitzsimmons was let go, the sheriff said, but only temporarily.

At a search of Fitzsimmons’ home in Lubec last month, public safety officials found several marijuana joints and undisclosed amounts of dried marijuana and oxycodone, a prescription narcotic. About $1,400 in cash also was found.

He wasn’t charged with trafficking then, but Smith had said in November that more serious charges were likely to follow.

Fitzsimmons’ girlfriend, Jennifer Wallace, 26, also was arrested in November on minor drug charges and bail violations. She could face trafficking charges as well.

Townsend, whose case is not related to Fitzsimmons or Wallace, is suspected of trafficking in OxyContin, the sheriff said.

Smith declined to release details about the nature of Townsend’s arrest but said it was the culmination of a lengthy investigation.

Townsend also is one of five people charged with assault stemming from an August incident in Baileyville. He and four others are suspected of attacking two teenagers from Indian Township. Those charges have not been resolved.

The state Attorney General’s Office is still investigating the incident to see if a hate crime was committed.