Schools

Schools Chief Facing Felony Trial to Return to Newport-Mesa School District

Jeffrey Hubbard has been on voluntarily paid leave since January. His trial is scheduled for Aug. 15.

He has been away from the Newport-Mesa Unified School district preparing for his upcoming criminal trial related to allegations of misused public money, but Jeffrey Hubbard will return to his post as superintendent on Tuesday.

Hubbard, 54, is facing two felony counts of misappropriation of public funds that stem from when he was superintendent of the Beverly Hills Unified School District. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 15.

Board president Walt Davenport said when Hubbard left in January, it was on a voluntary basis.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"He had requested to leave therefore it is totally appropriate to terminate his leave," Davenport said. "I don't believe the board has to take any action for him to return, but to cover all the bases on July 12 the board will have an item on the agenda to ratify his return."

The charges - which Hubbard pleaded not guilty to in January - were filed Dec. 9 and refer to incidents that are alleged to have occurred while he worked at Beverly Hills Unified between September 2005 and February 2006. According to documents from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Hubbard  gave Karen Anne Christiansen, the district director of planning and facilities at the time, a $20,000 stipend and an increased car stipend without school board consent.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Christiansen also faces the two felony misappropriation of funds charges as well as six felony counts of conflict of interest from incidents alleged to have occurred between 2006 and 2008, according to the district attorney's office.

Hubbard's fate will ultimately be determined in a court of law, but in the meantime Davenport is expressing his support.

"I'm glad to see him back," Davenport said.


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