88 F
The Villages
Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Villager sentenced in case of pushing girlfriend out of golf cart

John Francis Bessette
John Francis Bessette

A 72-year-old Villager has been sentenced for pushing his girlfriend out of a golf cart in August.

John Francis Bessette was sentenced on Wednesday in Sumter County Court to one year’s probation. He was also ordered to perform 25 hours of community service. In addition, he was assessed $940 in fines and court costs. He had entered a plea of guilty to a charge of battery last month.

Bessette and his girlfriend had been at City Fire and got into an argument afterward while traveling in the golf cart, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman and a witness said Bessette braked hard in the golf cart and pushed the woman out on Darwin Terrace in the Village of Amelia.

Guests should be charged to use facilities in The Villages

In a Letter to the Editor, a longtime resident of The Villages suggests the 300,000 guests per year to The Villages should be supporting to the community by paying for guest passes.

We should not be opening any of the Priority Pools to the public

A Village of Orange Blossom Gardens resident says Priority Pools should not be opened up to non-member Villagers. Read her Letter to the Editor.

Neighborhood restrictions on short-term rentals

A Village of Pine Hills resident, in a Letter to the Editor, offers information about neighborhood restrictions on short-term rentals.

It’s time to care more about Villagers than visitors

A Village of Chatham resident supports the idea of capping amenity fees. She says it’s time to care more about residents than visitors.

We’re paying more but getting less

A reader from the Village of Pennecamp, in a Letter to the Editor, writes that we seem to be paying more and getting less.