Sheriff’s deputies were called for a second time in two days to the Best Western Hotel in Yucca Valley last week. According to the Sheriff’s Department, James Spencer, 30, of Yucca Valley, entered the hotel lobby in the 56500 block of 29 Palms Highway about 9:40 a.m., went over to the breakfast area, pushed the attendant away and stole her tip jar with an undisclosed amount of money. No weapon was used, but the hotel attendant said she feared for her safety. Spencer then fled on a bicycle. Deputies located Spencer about an hour later near Bannock Trail and Pueblo Trail, and he was arrested for investigation of strong arm robbery. James Spencer was booked at the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $100,000, and is being held on a no-bail warrant. On Sunday, December 27, Sheriff’s officials say that Sherman Brant, 30, stabbed a hotel employee in the head after he was confronted rummaging through the hotel’s dumpsters. Sherman Brant was arraigned in Joshua Tree Superior Court Tuesday, December 29, for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with his bail set at $1.6 million.
