Former Philadelphia sportscaster Don Tollefson was supposed to be sentenced today for defrauding fans with phony travel packages, instead he told the judge he was withdrawing his guilty plea and will go to trial.
A disgraced former Philadelphia sportscaster was expected to learn his fate Monday for swiping more than $317,000 from hundreds of victims during a charity scheme, but instead, he withdrew his original plea and made the decision to represent himself in an upcoming trial, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
Don Tollefson pleaded guilty earlier this year to misrepresenting a charity, theft and related charges. Tollefson was in court Monday for sentencing -- facing up to 30 years in prison -- when he withdrew his guilty plea and made the announcement that he would be his own representation when the trial begins in early 2015.
Tollefson requested a public defender back last spring, but that request was rejected by a judge.
The former FOX29 and 6ABC sports anchor said that his battle with addiction caused him to not deliver on sports trips that he would auction off at various charity events.
Prosecutors requested full restitution to more than 200 victims who never received the tickets of sports packages they were promised.
Tollefson allegedly funneled money he raised on behalf of charitable organizations into his bank accounts, prosecutors said.
The 62-year-old was released from jail earlier this year to spend 30 days in a drug and alcohol treatment program. His release stipulations were that he remained on house arrest, take his medications and follow bail conditions, according to court records.
Tollefson's trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5, 2015 at 9 a.m. in Bucks County.
