A former Giant Eagle employee who reportedly pocketed fraudulent Advantage Card refunds is disputing an $84,700 restitution tally.

Joshua Bertoncello, 23, had to come up with $25,000 of the restitution prior to his sentencing today as part of his plea bargain arrangement with the Butler County District Attorney's office.

Bertoncello pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to serve 7 years in the county's Intermediate Punishment program, which is offered to first time and non-violent offenders.

Butler County Judge Timothy McCune said he sentenced Bertoncello to the longest time frame allowable by law for that crime because of the large outstanding balance on the restitution.

However, the judge said Bertoncello would most likely be permitted to leave the IP program early if he pays off the restitution.

Defense attorney Al Lindsay of Butler told the judge his client would like a separate hearing to challenge the restitution amount.

Investigators, according to court documents, came up with the total after auditing the books at the Giant Eagle in Clearview Mall.

Employees may refund Advantage Card savings to customers who do not have their cards with them at the time of their purchases. The refunds would be made once the cardholders brought in their cards and receipts.

Bertoncello, who allegedly confessed to store officials and state police, reportedly came up with the scheme to pay for more than $40,000 in charges he ran up on his mother's credit cards, state police said.

Court record say Bertoncello, who worked at the customer service desk, allegedly took the money over two years, beginning in January 2005.