DALLAS - Released after serving time, former Dallas city council member James Fantroy is defiant as ever.

Fantroy served 30 days after he was convicted in federal court for stealing more that $20,000 from Paul Quinn College, which is where he was the treasurer of the community development fund. He wrote checks to himself, his family and his political campaign.

"I'm 70 years old; I don't want to go to no prison," he said. "I don't want to spend one day in no prison."

The judge offered to let Fantroy serve the time at his home if he would confess, but Fantroy refused and claims he is innocent.

The kidney cancer patient served his time in an assisted living prison in Fort Worth.

"I was scared," he said. "I was scared as hell. Then I got there. It was just like I was in the hospital."

While Fantroy shared a room with six inmates, including one who killed a federal marshal, he has no complaints.

"Thank ya'll doctors," he said. "Thank you warden. Thank all ya'll. Ya'll treated me like a human being."

Fantroy was widely ridiculed for refusing to admit guilt. But he said he still hopes to get the conviction overturned on an appeal.

"Whatever the judge asks me to do, I will do it," he said. "But I wont plead guilty."

For the next six months, Fantroy is on house arrest.

E-mail greaves@wfaa.com