Pair arrested in theft of golf cart
 

Pair arrested in theft of Villager’s golf cart from Mulberry Grove
February 20, 2014 By Meta Minton 2 Comments

Kevin Bansley

Christopher Sparkman
Two Oxford men have been arrested in connection with the theft last week of a Villager’s golf cart from the Publix at Mulberry Grove shopping plaza.
Kevin Allen Bansley, 31, of Oxford, was arrested on charges of Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle and Dealing in Stolen Property. Christopher Lee Sparkman, 34, of Oxford was charged Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle.
The golf cart is owned by Paul Cagle of the Village of Springdale. He had purchased the 2011 rebuilt Yamaha in January.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies went to 9935 SE 169 Lane in the Meadows mobile home and RV park on Highway 42 Wednesday night and located the golf cart.
According to the arrest report, the pair told detectives they were trying to sell the cart for $1,500.
Sparkman told detectives he was “high” when the golf cart was taken, according to the arrest report.
Bond for Sparkman was set at $5,000. Bond for Bansley was set at $15,000.

That pair are a couple of dumb a&^%&!

God forgive me, the last on my list of criteria for anyone is their looks, but these guys look very, very, very..............................




Cannot think of a word.


Can someone give us a google map of where they live and where the cart was stolen?




AND Let's hear it for the boys. Our law enforcement is ON THE JOB!!!!

Naturally, I am glad these no-good-niks were caught.

However, did we ever learn if the cart owner accidently left his key in the cart switch? According to the owner, he was only in the store for about 10 minutes or less.

That would have been an accomplishment to hotwire the cart or load it on a trailer in that timeperiod, I would think. Much easier and quicker to turn the cart on with the key left in the switch and drive off.

Burglary
 

You don't take something that doesn't belong to you!!!! So what if he left the key in the cart? It is still HANDS OFF!

exactly!

If I remember correctly, the first thing the officers asked this gentleman was if he took the key out. He pulled the key out of his pocket and showed them.

Blame the dumba$$ crooks; not the victim.

How far did they have to drive it Mike? You are good with maps.

Here ya are.

Your Honor
Here we sit in " Americas Friendliest Hometown "
So naturally when my clients saw the keys in the golf cart they assumed
the cart was a communal cart.
Just one of the may free amenities like free golf for life like we have all
heard about.
They are deeply sorry , and wish to apologize to the community.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=9935+...ed=0CAkQ_AUoAQ

Looks like a path is worn, cutting through the fence line, directly into TV.

I didn't see that. Where did you get that information? I would like to read the article. Thanks.

cart
 

Your Honor
Here we sit in " Americas Friendliest Jail "

We must be the brightest bulbs on the tree----NOT

Why care if the keys were left in the cart, they grew up poor, didn't have a job, or what ever else you can conjure up to blame the victim and not the crook. I grew up poor, struggled to find jobs, had to break the fish and game laws to keep food on the table, but I don't steal golf carts. They did the crime so they should do the time. This is not in any way the victims fault and to even suggest that is wrong. That kind of thinking is a huge contributor to why we have this problem.

I don't think it is a case of "blame the victim"...

Rather, common sense says "don't leave the keys in the ignition" You wouldn't do it in your car, why do it in your cart?

People read things differently, I guess. I have only seen one post where the question was asked if the keys were in the cart because the owner was gone from the cart for such a short time. Ten minutes is a pretty short time to steal a cart without the keys, in a public parking lot, so logical question, if one is trying to figure out how it happened. I absolutely did not read any blame into the post.

Very unfair that Sparkman's bond is $5,000. Telling a detective that he was "high" ..... heck, he should have a much higher bond just being an idiot to begin with.

Please explain, anyone, what difference it makes, if it is known if the key was in the ignition or not?

Similiar to some poster, posting they saw police lights at a rec center and ask if anyone knows what happened. What difference does it make if you know or not? Go buy a scanner!

Thank you Sheriffs Dept for a job well done!

cisco kid

You just crack me up

I think some may have gotten the wrong idea when I asked if the key was left in the cart. It is easy to do. I did that one time in our church parking lot. Good thing Lutherans are honest.:ohdear:

Of course the perps are bad folk and deserve to be locked up.

Common sense applies in The Villages like anywhere else. Don't leave keys in the cart, car, front door open, garage open, etc.

The perps probably would have moved to easier pickings if they were not in the cart - but a crime of opportunity presented itself. Ask the insurance company.

How did they catch them?

Villages burglary suspect had access through cleaning service job
February 20, 2014 By Meta Minton Leave a Comment
Christopher Sparkman
A joint operation Wednesday night between the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office led to the recovery of a Villagers’ golf cart and may have netted an even bigger prize.
Christopher Lee Sparkman, 34, of Oxford, was one of two men arrested and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
You can read more about that case at the link below:
http://www.**************.com/pair-a...ulberry-grove/
But Sparkman has also been on the radar of some Sumter County detectives looking for a break in a rash of burglaries in The Villages.
He is a suspect in at least two Villages burglaries in which jewelry was stolen. He could be connected to more Villages burglaries, said Lt. Bobby Caruthers of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Sparkman worked for a cleaning service.
“He had access and knew the layout in some of these homes,” Caruthers said.
Thus far, Sparkman has been charged with two counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle (one for the golf cart theft), burglary of an unoccupied dwelling (unarmed) and grand theft.
One of the grand theft auto charges is in connection with an automobile stolen in Lake Panasoffkee.
There have been at least a dozen burglaries in The Villages in the past month.
Earlier this month, Sumter County sheriff’s deputies foiled a separate burglary in The Villages. You can read about that at the link below:
http://www.**************.com/deputi...ge-fernandina/

He worked for a cleaning service? Does anyone know which one?

You see the sores on Sparkman's face? That and rotten or missing front teeth, looking haggard or thin are common signs of meth use. Sparkman was released from prison in 2012 where he served time for possession of meth and other controlled substances. If you want to check someone out, just do a search for "State of FL Dept of Corrections" and you can easily see if they have served prison time, have been let out, or have absconded.

This guy watched too much Breaking Bad! He reminds me of Jesse from that show! :ohdear:
Why did a cleaning company hire him with this extensive of a criminal background?

Former Michiganders, an even better question is: How is it that he was in prison and let out in 2012; had this golf cart red handed; it appears that there is evidence of some burglaries and a stolen car, yet his bond is only 5K?

Yes! Really would like to know what cleaning company! Was it one that is a well known that many of us might use like Molly Maids or Made to Shine etc? Very scary that we trust these people to come into our houses.

From what I read Bansley's bond is higher than Sparkman because he was charged with possession of stolen property found in his car. A defendant telling a police officer that he was high when he committed the crime is usually part of a calculated plan to try and get drug rehab rather than jail. And believe it or not, it sometimes works. I personally find it reprehensible but that it only my jaded opinion from dealing with criminals for 35 years.

It is a easy feat to simply push a golf cart onto a trailer ramp. Two guys could do this in seconds.

We applaud both the Marion Co. and Sumter Co. Sherrif Departments for working together to catch these guys. :bigbow: Also wondered why the one bond was only 5K for an ex con.:undecided: Stay safe everyone!

10 mins. probably 9 mins and 15 seconds too long to pinch the golf cart. I would think carts would be easily hot wired around the ignition switch by someone who has wiring knowledge of golf carts, couple jumper wires and off you go?. Probably only took 2 to 3 mins. with these seasoned knuckleheads. How about the other 2? was they suspects in those stolen carts also?

I bow to your superior knowledge of golf cart stealing over mine. My applause to the Sheriff's Departments and hope for long jail terms for the perps.

If anyone finds out which cleaning service please post! I don't want to do business with a company that would hire someone like that!

Excellent job by the Sheriff Dept:BigApplause:

It was a collaboration between Marion County and Sumter County.


Makes ME rest a little easier.


One of these guys may be "bigfoot" the door kicker inner.

Even quicker to hammer a screwdriver into the "ignition" switch. I would bet this is what actually happened.

ggg

No need to "hotwire" most carts. Many Villagers are obviously not aware that keys to the most popular carts are very frequently "interchangeable". (Especially on the same manufacturers equipment, although I've had Club Car keys fit Yamaha also.) If you just have a Yamaha key, for example, it will fit most other Yamahas and possibly others. Sad but true. If you'd like to check, just ask others with the same brand as your and you'll confirm. Considering the cost of new carts, you'd hope they would be more secure, rather than being keyed like old luggage.

There is an "option" to reduce the problem. When buying a new cart you can pay more to have an "individualized" switch supplied on the cart while you're adding in all those other extras.