Defense attorney argues against jail for ex-sportscaster

A defense attorney is arguing against jail time for a former Philadelphia sportscaster convicted of selling bogus sports-themed trips that he said would help various charities.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that attorney Robert Goldman argues that putting 62-year-old Donald Tollefson behind bars would do little good. He also cites all the good his client’s charities have done for poor children.

Tollefson is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in Bucks County. He earlier agreed to a plea deal calling for a seven-month sentence but withdrew the plea and went to trial.

Prosecutors accused Tollefson of defrauding more than 200 sports fans out of $340,000 worth of sports travel packages that never materialized. He portrayed himself as a bad businessman who tried to help too many charities.