Fmr. sportscaster Don Tollefson heading to trial

WARMINSTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Former Philadelphia sportscaster Don Tollefson will head to trial on fraud charges after waiving his preliminary hearing on Thursday morning.

Tollefson was in court in Warminster, Bucks County.

He is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from about 100 people.

That amount is a new figure just revealed by prosecutors on Thursday morning. The previous estimate was $100,000.

Investigators say he told people he was raising money for the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania and other charities.

District Judge Daniel Finello ordered the case to county court, calling it "a big disappointment to everyone in the Delaware Valley."

He told Tollefson that he had been "a trusted and respected member of the community."

Defense attorney Sharif Abaza said his client had "an addiction problem" and has been working daily "to fight that addiction and remain in recovery."

Tollefson didn't talk about the charges on Thursday, but instead offered thanks on behalf of his wife and daughter.

"Thank you for the respect of my wife and my daughter, in particular at their home because - as you may know - I'm separated and living in the city, a North Philadelphia apartment, and I want to thank you for being respectful and not coming over to the house, knowing that I'm there just rarely when I can go there - under court order - to see my daughter," he said.

Earlier this year, a judge released Tollefson from the Bucks County prison, so he could spend 30 days in a drug and alcohol treatment program.

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The Associated Pres contributed to this report.