The former schools chief in Beverly Hills was convicted Monday on two felony charges of misappropriation of public funds.
Jeffrey Hubbard, now superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, was convicted of ordering $20,000 in bonuses for an administrator and increasing her car allowance to $500 a month without approval from Beverly Hills school board members. He was acquitted on a third charge of illegally increasing another subordinate's pay.
Hubbard appeared stunned and placed a hand on his face when the verdict was announced.
"I don't know how I can be guilty when there are so many checks and balances," Hubbard said shortly after his conviction in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He said he will appeal.
Hubbard, who was released on his own recognizance, faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 23. He has no prior criminal record.
The 54-year-old educator testified last week that he thought that other administrators would place the directives to pay the administrator on a school board agenda for approval and that he told Beverly Hills trustees about the payments in closed session.
Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Max Huntsman said he was pleased with the verdict and called oversight of public funds "absolutely critical," adding that the jury's decision can serve as a message to others in positions of power.
Hubbard's future with the Newport-Mesa district was not immediately clear. He probably would be allowed to retain his educational credentials — a requirement of his job description — during an appeals process, state officials have said, but the school board can terminate his contract or place him on leave.
Trustees for the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa schools will meet in closed session Tuesday "to take appropriate action," said Dave Brooks, president of the school board.
A majority of the five-member board publicly stood by Hubbard throughout the criminal proceedings, allowing him to take paid leave to prepare for trial and then later return to work. However, the teachers union took a vote of no confidence in him.
Hubbard was first charged in December 2010 in connection with giving former facilities director Karen Anne Christiansen, 53, bonuses equaling $20,000 and raising her car allowance.
Evidence at trial included sexually suggestive emails between Hubbard and Christiansen, but Hubbard said the two were not romantically linked and prosecutors did not accuse them of being romantically linked, only of having a "special relationship."
Times staff writer Britney Barnes contributed to this report.
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