SACRAMENTO, CA - A retired El Dorado County sheriff's deputy suspected of embezzling money from the El Dorado County Deputy Sheriff's Association (DSA) was arrested Thursday.
Donald Philip Atkinson is suspected of taking more than $300,000 from the association over six years, said the California Attorney General's Office.
Atkinsonworked for the sheriff's department from 1994 to September 2011, during which time he was named a sergeant. He was also the president of the DSA for several years.
An investigation by the attorney general's office and the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office foundAtkinson falsified documents, submitted forged documents to the DSA and pocketed money that he claimed was for charitable purposes.
Atkinsonallegedly used the money he took to pay his rent and the rent of a woman he was dating.
The investigation alsofoundAtkinson stole $100,000 from an elderly or dependant adult. He told the victim he needed the money to buy a photography business from a man with cancer.
According to the investigation,Atkinson falsified a contract and never used the funds for their intended purpose.
Atkinsonwas arrested for 44 felony counts that include embezzlement, grand theft, forgery and perjury.
