The former mayor of the Village of Candor has been sentenced to jail time for stealing over $23,000 in village funds.
On Monday, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced the former mayor Eric Halstead was sentenced to 60 days in jail for grand larceny.
Halstead was arrested on July 1, 2024 and charged with second-degree corrupting the government and third-degree grand larceny, both felonies, following a joint investigation with the state Comptroller’s Office.
The day after his arrest, Halstead resigned during a village board of trustees meeting. He had served as mayor since 2012.
More: Former Candor mayor pleads guilty to stealing $23K from village
In January, Halstead pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and paid the full restitution.
Halstead’s crime was uncovered when unusual entries referring to ATM withdrawals and a “Mayor’s discretionary fund” were found in the village’s records, according to a press release from the state comptroller’s office.
A subsequent investigation revealed Halstead stole $23,519 in village funds from February 2017 to May 2023. He put money back into the village’s accounts at random intervals, totaling $19,302.
Halstead was sentenced in Tioga County Court. As part of his sentence, he is barred from running for public office.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Former Candor mayor stole $23K from upstate NY village