Robert John Anderson, 51, was convicted of Grand Theft today by a jury in Lee County following a three day trial. The jury was out just over an hour this afternoon. He was adjudicated guilty and immediately sentenced to 60 days in jail followed by two years of probation by the Honorable Judge Ramiro Mañalich. Anderson was remanded into custody.
The crime happened in May 2016 after six lawn mowers were donated to a non-profit organization in North Fort Myers by the Lehigh Acres Board of Fire Commissioners. After the donation was made Anderson contacted the organization and said he had spoken with the fire chief and the mowers were donated in error, which was false. He then fraudulently picked up 5 of the mowers (one had already been sold) under the guise that the mowers were to be refurbished and donated to needy families in the community. The theft resulted in a loss of over $1000 to the organization.
Assistant State Attorneys Joshua Fredrickson and Tyler Lovejoy prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org