A trial continued on Tuesday for Alfonso Picone, the Tamaqua restaurant owner accused of stealing $315,000 from an elderly couple who entrusted him with their finances.

A forensic accountant testified in court Tuesday that Picone would have been unable to meet his expenses for his restaurant, La Dolce Casa, without the money he allegedly stole from the victims, John and Ella Burnard.

Dennis Houser testified that between Aug. 26, 2013, and Dec. 9, 2014, there were 23 transactions from the Burnards' bank and retirement accounts to Picone or his business or his vendors (contractors who did work on his house) totaling $319,501.

Many of the checks were temporary checks with Picone's name and the Burnards' address on them. The were signed by Ella Burnard.

Houser projected a spreadsheet tracking the flow of funds from the Burnards' accounts into his personal and business accounts, and to contractor who did work on his house.

Another spreadsheet revealed La Dolce Casa typically ran in the red; often it was only with infusions from the Burnards' accounts that allowed Picone to pay the bills.

This afternoon, jurors will hear from the director of accounting for Sands Bethlehem, who reportedly reviewed Picone's gaming records going back to August 2013.