ONLY ON 3: Confronting Accused AYSO Embezzler

INDIO- A woman accused of stealing more than $100,000 from a La Quinta soccer league says she didn’t do it.

News Channel 3 confronted her face to face when this story broke in July. Thursday, we asked hermore tough questions after she pleaded not guilty in court. We approached Sharon Schumaier in the hallway of the Larson Justice Center and asked, “Mrs. Schumaier, do you have anything to say to the AYSO parents?”

Schumaier replied while turning her back to the camera, “No, I have nothing to say right now.”

Her attorney answered for her, “She has no comment.”

Schumaier became La Quinta’s soccer organization commissioner in 2006. But, when other American Youth Soccer Organization board members wondered what happened to $108,000, detectives raided Schumaier’s home and business this summer. They confiscated computers and documents.

Prosecutors say they have a large amount of evidence showing she embezzled the children’s soccer money for years.

The AYSO says a basic background check did not turn up the fact Schumaier pleaded guilty to embezzlement in 1996. In july, we confronted Schumaier as she left her attorney’s office.

“Sharon Schumaier. Did you tell the AYSO you were a convicted felon before you handled all their money?” we asked.

Schumaier continued to walk to her car and answered, “No comment.”

We pressed, “Did you tell the AYSO about what happened in ’95, ’96?”

“No comment,” replied Schumaier again.

As we asked, “Any explanation?” Schumaier closed her car door and drove away.

Since her arrest, Sharon Schumaier has tried to live her regular life. Parents still see her at the La Quinta park, watching her kids play soccer.

Schumaier’s attorney Susanne Cho tells News Channel 3, “Ms. Schumaier has cooperated with law enforcement. We’ve contacted them and shared information with them. We have not received anything back from the prosecutors office, but as you hear in court today, they’ll turn it over, and we’ll have a look at it.”

Schumaier is free on more than $100,000 bail. Her trial is not expected to begin until early next year.