10-year-old boy hit and kicked found hiding inside store; Victorville couple arrested

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — A Victorville couple is under arrest and facing multiple charges after a young boy was found hiding in an aisle of a local business, officials said.

It happened on November 10, 2018, when Deputy Tamayo with the Victorville Police Department responded to the business in the 12600 block of Amargosa Road and spoke with the 10-year-old boy.

“Deputy Tamayo learned the boy had been hit and kicked by his mother. He was fearful of her and decided to hide in the store,” stated a sheriff’s news release.

Deputies went to the boy’s home in the 12700 block of Trotters Lane in Victorville and spoke with his mom, Jennifer Teresa Lee, 30, and her boyfriend, Matthew Lee Jipp, 30, who also lives at the home.

“Through investigation, it was discovered the boy had been left alone for several hours the previous night. When Lee and Jipp returned, Lee became angry at the boy and hit and kicked him,” officials said.

After obtaining a search warrant,  Inside the home deputies located loaded firearms, ammunition, cocaine, large amounts of marijuana, cannabis wax, currency, multiple large capacity ammunition magazines, and other paraphernalia associated with the use and sales of drugs, officials said.

Representatives from the Department of Children and Family Services responded and took custody of the 10-year old boy and his 1-year old sibling.

Lee was arrested and booked at High Desert Detention Center for possession of marijuana for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed, inflicting injury on a child, and accessory to a crime.

Jipp, a convicted felon, was arrested and booked at High Desert Detention Center for possession of marijuana for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed, inflicting injury on a child, felon in possession of a firearm, and prohibited person in possession of ammunition.

The case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review and consideration of additional charges.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.