Burbank Teacher Held in Drug Case Faces 2 Felony Charges

The Burbank junior high school teacher arrested on suspicion of sending large shipments of cocaine from Los Angeles to Hawaii is facing two felony drug charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Thursday.

William Darren Hubbell--a substitute teacher and the son of Burbank school board member--was arrested Wednesday and charged by with attempted drug possession with intent to distribute, said spokesman Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The 32-year-old Burbank resident’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 23 when a magistrate will decide whether Hubbell must stand trial in Hawaii on federal drug charges, Mrozek said.

Hubbell became the target of a federal investigation last May after he was suspected of using Federal Express to send five pounds of cocaine to Leroy Junio Padilla of Hawaii, according to a federal affidavit.

A short time later, Padilla was arrested by DEA agents in Hawaii.

Earlier this month, Burbank narcotics detectives put Hubbell under surveillance at his home in the 200 block of South Mariposa Street.

Agents tracked Hubbell to a drug store and then a Monrovia Post Office, where he mailed a package with a kilogram of cocaine tucked hidden in two boxes of baby wipes, the document said.