Former library director gets to 6 years in prison

PONTIAC — A judge in north-central Illinois has sentenced a former library director to six years in prison for stealing money from the Odell Public Library.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that Judge Stephen Pacey handed down the sentence Thursday after 44-year-old Eric Colclasure of Pontiac made a rambling, 45-minute statement. In his speech, Colclasure blamed his mistakes on a bad childhood, depression and a general anxiety disorder.

Livingston County First Assistant State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak says prosecutors were able to verify that Colclasure stole more than $30,000 from the library, but library officials contend he took much more.

Colclasure will have to pay the library back within two years of his release from prison. He pleaded guilty to four counts of felony theft in May.