Ayala, California basketball booster says he's innocent of embezzlement

An Ayala High School basketball booster accused of embezzlement said in an interview Wednesday that he's innocent of criminal charges.Donald Williamson said that during his two-month stint last year as president of the booster club for the Chino Hills school's girls basketball program, he withdrew money from the club's bank account to reimburse himself for expenses incurred as president.He claims he had no "criminal intent," and didn't know he was violating club rules or the law."Whatever I was doing, I was doing for the program," said Williamson, 49. "I was hustling for the girls."Williamson's comments came after an arraignment in Chino Superior Court, in which he pleaded not guilty to two felonies filed last month by prosecutors.He faces charges of embezzlement and grand theft. Both charges allege he took more than $400.Judge Gerard S. Brown appointed the San Bernardino County Public Defender's Office to represent him after Williamson told the judge his monthly income was $221.Williamson, of Los Angeles, is next due in court Tuesday for a pre-preliminary hearing."I'm not confessing now," he said after the hearing. "I don't feel I did anything wrong. "Deputy District Attorney Steve Mitchell, the prosecutor assigned to Williamson's case, declined to respond to his comments."We'll just let the facts of the case come out at the preliminary hearing, if it gets that far," Mitchell said.In an extensive interview, Williamson described himself as a "great father" who works hard to help his daughters' sports programs. He acknowledged that he's served numerous prison terms, but he said he was honest with the basketball program about his past and no longer commits crimes."I truly regret it turned out this way," he said. Williamson said he first became involved in the booster club at Ayala in fall 2008, during his daughter's freshman year at the school. He said he's a professional chef who owns a mobile barbecue business, and he used his cooking skills to boost annual revenue at the team's snack bar from $800 to $3,800. Because of his success running the snack bar, he said other boosters encouraged him to become more involved in the club. The following season, he said he ran unopposed to become the club's president.After his election, he said the past president had debit cards made for him and the club's new treasurer allowed them to access the club's bank account. He said reimbursement rules were never explained to him. During his time as president - from October to December - Williamson said he worked for the club six days a week for six to eight hours a day. He said he received no compensation.Midway through his tenure, he moved to Inglewood. After his move, he said he drove frequently between Chino Hills and Inglewood.He said that in addition to running the snack bar, he solicited donations and sponsorships for the program. He said the club's bank account ballooned to nearly $9,000 while he was president.Williamson said he withdrew money from the account to cover his gas expenses. He recalled making three withdrawals: for $300, $200 and $40."I don't feel I've done anything wrong," Williamson said. "You gave me this position and didn't explain the position fully."Williamson said he resigned the position in December after the club's board members questioned the way he handled the club's finances.In arguing his innocence, Williamson noted that after the alleged embezzlement, there was several thousand dollars left in the account."If I steal something, I'm gonna go all out," he said.He said he isn't open to a plea bargain, and he wants to take his case to trial."I just want to show the jury and the court that there's no criminal intent," he said.