A retired El Dorado County sheriff's deputy and former union official is facing charges after authorities say he embezzled more than $300,000 from the union that represents the county's deputies.
Prosecutors say Donald Philip Atkinson was arrested Thursday and charged with embezzlement, grand theft and other charges alleging that he stole the money while serving as president of the El Dorado County Deputy Sheriffs' Association from 2005 to 2011.
Investigators say the 50-year-old Atkinson falsified documents to the union and pocketed money from checks that he wrote from the union's accounts. He allegedly told his union that he gave money to charitable organization, including to the families of four slain Oakland police officers.
Atkinson also allegedly falsified records that showed checks for more than $20,000 were written for charitable purposes, including a donation to the families of four slain Oakland police officers in 2009.
Atkinson is being held on $1 million bail. It's not known if had hired an attorney.
