Robert John Anderson

A candidate for a seat on the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District is accused of obtaining several riding lawn movers from a local Habitat for Humanity under false pretenses.

Robert John Anderson, 50, of 1147 Cherokee Ave., was arrested and charged today with one count of larceny grand theft $300 less than $5,000, according to the booking log. He remains in custody at the Lee County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Anderson is running for Seat 3 on the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District under the name “John Anderson.” His opponents in the race include Alain Capucci, Al Ron Gonzalez, William E. Liedtke and Thomas Mccolloch.

A warrant for Anderson’s arrest was issued today by a Lee County judge.

According to documents, detectives “discovered that the six lawn mowers were donated by the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District to the Habitat for Humanity and to be used by them only. Five of the lawn mowers were then under false pretenses, surreptitiously removed by Anderson for the sole purpose of depriving the victim (Habitat for Humanity) of the right and/or benefit of the property. At no time was Anderson given permission to or entitled to appropriate the five lawn mowers for his personal use and by removing them from the Habitat for Humanity store committed a grand theft.”

Anderson could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to documents, he provided a statement to detectives in which he stated the former fire chief “has a grudge against him for articles that he has written about the fire department in the past and does not understand what all the fuss is about because he did nothing wrong.”