Conviction overturned for ex-Beverly Hills schools chief

Nearly two years after a jury found former Beverly Hills schools Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard guilty of misappropriating public funds, a state appellate court panel reversed his two felony convictions on Tuesday.

Hubbard was convicted in January 2012 of two counts of misappropriating public funds while acting as superintendent of Beverly Hills Unified School District from July 2003 to June 2006.

The charges stemmed from allegations that Hubbard paid Karen Christiansen, former district director of planning and facilities, an unauthorized bonus and increased car allowance, the Daily Pilot reported.

Christiansen’s car allowance was boosted from $150 monthly to $500 in 2005. She was also granted a $20,000 stipend in 2006, according to the appellate court panel’s 10-page ruling.

However, the three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed with Hubbard’s lawyers that state law outlined that as superintendent he was not “charged with the receipt, safekeeping, transfer, or disbursement of public moneys” and overturned his conviction, according to the ruling.

“At trial it was undisputed that both the increased car allowance and the stipend required approval by the district’s board of education — Hubbard did not have the legal authority to order them unilaterally,” Judge Frances Rothschild wrote in the ruling.

Hubbard joined Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Orange County after working in Beverly Hills and was fired in 2012, the day after he was convicted in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

“He was let go from Newport-Mesa because we were legally required to terminate him,” board President Karen Yelsey said Wednesday.

Since the power to authorize funding increases like bonuses and other allowances rests with the district’s board, Yelsey said she was not surprised by the court’s decision.

“I personally never thought he should have been charged,” she said. “A superintendent isn’t responsible for authorizing funds.”

Throughout the appeals process, Hubbard’s lawyers contended that others in Beverly Hills Unified failed to follow proper protocols when Christiansen’s compensation was enhanced. They also asserted that he would have been absolved by emails between Hubbard and school board members, but which the court declined to order the district to recover.

The state appellate court panel did not address those specific issues in their decision Tuesday.

After being sentenced in February 2012, Hubbard served four of his 60 days in jail. He was also sentenced to 280 hours of community service, three years’ probation, $23,500 in restitution to the school district and a $6,000 fine. The appellate court vacated all of his penalties.

Los Angeles County Superior Court was directed by the panel to enter an order dismissing all charges against Hubbard, which must be done to completely clear his name, said Hillel Chodos, who represented Hubbard during the appeals process. Hubbard was also represented by Los Angeles attorney Philip Kaufler.

Prosecutors have until Feb. 9 to seek review of the appellate court panel’s decision. If they are denied review, the trial court will dismiss the charges within about two or three months, Chodos said.

“Even though he can demonstrate this was a gross travesty, anyplace he goes he still has a mug shot on the Web,” he said. “It’s tough to get back from that.”

Hubbard declined to comment on the court’s decision.

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hannah.fry@latimes.com

Fry writes for Times Community News.