Contractor accused of theft won't go to jail

ROCKLAND, Maine (WABI) – A Midcoast contractor who pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from dozens of customers will serve no time behind bars.

Malcolm Stewart owned the now defunct Castle Builders in Union.

Stewart was sentenced Thursday in a Rockland courtroom to seven years in prison, all seven of which were suspended.

The prosecutor had asked the judge to sentence Stewart to 30 months in prison.

He was ordered to pay $385,000 in restitution and will serve three years of probation.

Stewart entered a plea to Alford, meaning he pleaded guilty but maintains his innocence and acknowledges he could have been found guilty if the case had gone to trial.