A Joshua Tree man, released on bail last week, was in court again Tuesday, accused of a new crime. Sheriff’s reports say, a search warrant was served in the 6400 block of Valley View Street in Joshua Tree at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Deputies discovered four firearms, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and took three Joshua Tree residents into custody. Laurie Lippner, 53, and Ricky Hopewell, 53, were arrested for investigation of possession of drugs while armed, and booked into West Valley Detention Center; Lippner’s bail was set at $50,000; Hopewell was also arrested on an additional count of being armed while committing a felony; his bail was set at $100,000. Michael Nabb, 52, was arrested for being in possession of an assault weapon, booked into the Morongo Basin Jail, with his bail set at $150,000. Hopewell was arrested in time to make an appearance in a Joshua Tree courtroom Tuesday for an arrest January 31 for being in possession of a controlled substance for sales.
