An Ellwood City man will spend up to a year in prison for stealing more than $37,000 of equipment that belonged to an Evans City contracting company.

Ryan McCandless, 32, pleaded guilty to felony theft and was sentenced Thursday by Butler County Judge William Shaffer.

In addition to the prison time, McCandless was ordered to serve 6 years of probation and 75 hours of community service. He also must pay for the stolen items.

Court records say McCandless confessed to taking the equipment, which included numerous molds, curb forms and metal plates from a Muddy Creek Township lot on various days in June 2013.

Some of the stolen property, which belonged to Brigh Contracting of Evans City, was later sold by McCandless at a New Castle recycling facility, according to court records.

Court records indicate McCandless already has a history of theft convictions in Lawrence and Beaver counties.