38-year-old William Lee Lipford of Jamestown Road in Morganton was arrested Saturday (July 22) by Morganton Public Safety Officers. He’s charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver schedule IV controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving during revocation.

Shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday, a Public Safety Officer conducted a traffic stop on Blanton Road in Morganton. The officer stopped a 2000 Honda Civic displaying an altered and fictitious plate. The driver was identified as William Lee Lipford. The officer seized 65 dosage units of carisoprodol, a muscle relaxer also known as Soma.

According to the North Carolina Department Of Adult Correction Offender Public Information website, William Lee Lipford has multiple misdemeanor convictions dating back to 2003, all in Burke County. His last conviction was in March, 2021 for assault on a female.

Following Saturday’s arrest, Lipford was brought to the Burke County Jail under $5,000 secured bond. He was not listed as a inmate in Burke County today (July 25). A District Court date was scheduled Monday (July 24). His next District Court appearance is set for August 11.