ROCKLAND, Maine (WABI) – The first day of a sentencing hearing for a Midcoast contractor who pleaded guilty to theft took place Wednesday in Rockland.

Malcolm Stewart owned the now-defunct Castle Builders in Union and was accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from more than 30 customers. The victims allege that he did not start or finish jobs for which they were paid.

In Wednesday’s hearing, the victims asked the judge to punish Stewart with jail time and restitution for those who lost money.

According to the prosecutor’s office, if the case had gone to trial, 33 victims would have testified that they lost more than 350 thousand dollars in total.

Most of the victims were elderly people whom Stewart allegedly targeted.

“He knew he was up to it, he’s a good con man,” replied Neil Shulman, who spoke at the hearing.

“It is very good. You feel like, “I guess I was just stupid because I was old, or I guess I was just stupid because we come from a state where we have all these protections,” and it didn’t occur to me that it could not to have them. But, it’s not like that, I have friends who are entrepreneurs, now I have friends who are entrepreneurs and they were taken too,” added April Wolf, whose dream workshop with her late husband was never completed.

Those close to Stewart are expected to speak Thursday.

Stewart entered an Alford plea, meaning he pleads guilty but maintains his innocence while acknowledging he could be found guilty if the case goes to trial.

Under a plea deal, Stewart can receive no more than 30 months behind bars.

Copyright 2024 WABI. All rights reserved.