Supervisors Agree to Pay the Last of Rubino’s Legal Fees

The county will pay the final $23,485 in attorney bills for former Budget Director Ronald S. Rubino, bringing to $631,263 the cost for defending him against criminal charges resulting from the county’s bankruptcy.

Rubino pleaded no contest in 1996 to a single felony count of altering public records, which was reduced to a misdemeanor by a judge and eventually stricken from his record.

Since the bankruptcy, Rubino and his family have maintained his innocence against charges that he was involved in an illegal scheme to divert interest earnings from schools, cities and special districts. The interest earnings were placed in the county’s general fund.

Former Treasurer Robert L. Citron pleaded guilty to felonies as a result of the diversion and served a year in jail. He testified at his trial that Rubino was unaware of the scheme. Assistant Treasurer Matthew R. Raabe was found guilty of similar felonies and sentenced to three years in jail. He is appealing his sentence.

The Board of Supervisors approved the $23,485 payment on a 4-1 vote.

Only Chairman Jim Silva voted against paying the final attorney bill for Rubino. He earlier opposed setting a cap of $665,800 for Rubino’s defense, saying the county shouldn’t pay more than $300,000.