Man arrested for golf cart theft

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
A Hartselle man has landed in hot water over the alleged theft of golf carts.
John Wesley Sanders II, 32, of 1609 Netherly Road, is charged with theft by deception in the first degree in connection with the theft of golf carts from Florence.
Hartselle police said Sanders purchased six golf carts from Oakley Equipment using a check from a closed account. Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department began the investigation and contacted the Hartselle Police.
While at Sanders’ home, police found two new horse trailers. Police discovered Sanders had purchased four new trailers from Wrangler Trailers, apparently with another check from a closed account. Buddy Loveland of Wranger Trailers said Sanders told him he wanted to become a trailer dealer.
The two trailers found at Sanders’ home were returned to Wranger. Another trailer was found in Vinemont and the fourth in Bull’s Gap, Tenn. Both were returned.
Police said Sanders has operated a golf cart dealership in Hartselle for the past several years under the name Palmetto Golf Carts and recently changed its name to Valley Golf Carts. He previously has been investigated for theft of golf cart parts where he allegedly made purchases using checks from closed account. Several of Sanders’ customers from his golf cart businesses contacted HPD with complaints of him selling carts and later picking them up for warranty work and never returning them.
In addition to the theft charges, Sanders is also facing charges for engaging in business without a license, failure to file sales tax reports and failure to remite sales tax to the city of Hartselle.
He is being held in the Morgan County Jail on $3,000 bond.