Former Maine contractor pleads guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from customers

BATH, Maine (WABI) – The owner of the now-defunct Castle Builders in Union has pleaded guilty to theft for taking money from customers but not doing the work.

The Courier-Gazette reports Malcolm Stewart, 58, changed his plea during a hearing Wednesday in Bath.

The paper reports Stewart entered an Alford plea which means he pleads guilty, but he maintains his innocence acknowledging he could be found guilty if the case went to trial.

A trial had been scheduled to start the next day.

According to the paper, the plea came after the Maine Attorney General’s Office offered a sentence agreement that would require less prison time.

The Courier reports an original deal of up to five years in prison was rejected by the defense.

The new deal would see Stewart sentenced anywhere from no time behind bars up to 30 months.

Stewart was indicted in March of 2021 for two counts of theft by deception.

His now-closed Midcoast contracting company is accused of stealing more than $400,000 from at least 50 customers.

According to the newspaper, Stewart who now lives in South Carolina, will likely be sentenced in October.

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