TAMAQUA -- Alfonso Picone from Tamaqua is facing numerous theft charges.
The whole investigation started when an employee from Schuylkill County Senior Services noticed something wrong with an elderly couple's finances.
Rush Township police said Picone stole more $315,492.47 from John and Ella Burnard of Rush Township back in 2014.
The Burnards were customers at to La Dolce Casa. That's where they said they met Picone.
Picone's family owns the restaurant on West Broad Street in Tamaqua.
Court papers show that Picone told the Burnards that his friend would manage their finances and that Picone should be added to their bank account.
Rush Township police say Picone then used that account to write checks to himself and to places including La Dolce Casa.
Investigators said the Burnards are in their 90's and have a mental disorder.
When Picone left a magistrate's office after his arraignment on Thursday, he said he didn't do it.
"I didn't do anything wrong. I'm innocent. I didn't do nothing."
People in Tamaqua said they were surprised by those theft charges and there is a mixed reaction as to whether people believe Picone committed the crime or not.
"You think you can get away with it, nah, nothing under the sun is not seen," said George Ernest of Tamaqua.
"Alfie is not capable of that," said Violetta Lankalas from Tamaqua.
Lankalas said she's known Picone for years and said he's always the first person to help the community.
"He's a kind person, you know and he treats everybody like family."
Others said they don't believe the elderly couple would make this up.
"Frankly, I'd want to kick his butt because you don't do that. Especially to an older couple? Come you, they work hard for that money," said Ernest.
Alfonso Picone is free on bail.
He's scheduled to be back in court again in a few weeks.