Mayor of Candor village arrested on corruption charges

ITHACA, NY – The mayor of Candor Township has been arrested and charged with allegedly stealing money from the township’s general fund for personal use.

Eric Halstead, 67, was arrested yesterday following an investigation by the New York State Police and the New York City Comptroller’s Office. On Monday, he was charged with third-degree grand larceny and second-degree bribery of the state.

According to the Auditor General’s Office, Halstead is accused of making cash withdrawals from the village’s general fund that village officials recorded under “ATM withdrawals” or “mayor’s discretionary expenses.” The discovery of the alleged cash withdrawals is attributed to an outside consultant hired to assist the village with its annual reports in March 2023.

Further investigations revealed, according to the Audit Office, that Halstead allegedly withdrew $23,519 from the village’s general fund since February 2017 and then “either deposited the money into his personal bank account or spent it.”

About $19,000 of the money taken from the general fund was returned and recorded as “ATM withdrawals” and “at the discretion of the mayor.”

According to the state auditor general, this practice amounted to Halstead giving himself “interest-free loans from public funds.” The office’s statement said Halstead has still not repaid more than $4,000 of the funds borrowed.

The Audit Office found that the deposits of public funds into Halstead’s personal account occurred when Halstead’s account was either depleted or in negative balance. The number of withdrawals made by Halstead was not disclosed.

“Mayor Halstead was entrusted by his community to represent their interests, but allegedly treated the village’s money as his own,” State Treasurer Thomas DiNapoli said in his statement announcing the charges. DiNapoli also thanked state police and Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin for their assistance in the investigation.

Halstead’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 5. Messages left at the Village of Candor office and at a public phone number for Halstead were not immediately returned.