The former mayor of the Village of Candor has pleaded guilty to stealing money from the village over a six-year period.

According to the office of the State Comptroller, Eric Halstead admitted to stealing over $23,000 from the village between February 2017 and May 2023. In all, Halstead took $23,519 in cash. The times that the money was taken often coincided with times that Halstead's personal bank account was nearly empty or overdrawn, according to the state comptroller.

Halstead intermittently and irregularly deposited money back into the village's account. He repaid $19,302 over the course of six years. 

Halstead served as mayor from 2012 until July 2024, shortly after his arrest. The state comptroller says Halstead pleaded guilty to the charge of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree. His contemplated sentence is 60 days in jail, a three-year conditional discharge, an agreement to never run for public office again, and repayment of the balance of the stolen funds.

Halstead is scheduled to be sentenced in April.