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

Malcolm Stewart was the owner of the now-defunct Castle Builders in Union and was accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from more than 30 customers. Victims claim he did not initiate or complete work for which they were paid.

At Wednesday’s hearing, the victims asked the judge to sentence Stewart to prison and compensate those who lost money.

According to the prosecution, if the case had been brought to court, 33 victims would have testified that they suffered a total loss of more than 350 thousand dollars.

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

Speaking at the hearing, Neil Shulman replied: “He knew what he was doing, he’s a good con artist.”

“He is very good. You feel like, ‘I guess I was stupid because I was old, or I was stupid because we came from a state where we had all these protections,’ and it never occurred to me that they might not have those protections. But it is not like that, I have contractor friends, now I have contractor friends, they were also taken,” added April Wolf, who was never able to complete her dream workshop with her now late husband.

Those close to Stewart are expected to speak on Thursday.

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

According to the plea agreement, Stewart cannot be sentenced to more than 30 months in prison.

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