Hubbard’s arraignment re-set for Jan. 3
LOS ANGELES — Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard’s felony arraignment on charges of misappropriation of public funds was postponed Monday till next week as prosecutors and attorneys argued over whether the co-defendant, Karen Anne Christiansen, was a flight risk and before which criminal judge the case should be heard.
Ultimately Christiansen, 52, was taken into custody and bail was set for $2 million, but neither Hubbard or Christiansen has been officially arraigned, said Los Angeles County Deputy District Atty. Juliet Schmidt.
The arraignment of both Christiansen and Hubbard is now set for Jan. 3 before Beverly Hills Courthouse Judge Eldon Fox.
Hubbard, 53, is alleged to have given Christiansen an unauthorized stipend of $20,000 and an increase in her car allowance – from $100 a month to $500 a month — while he was chief of the Beverly Hills school district in September 2005 and February 2006 and she served that district as its director of planning and services, according to the criminal complaint filed on Dec. 9.
Schmidt said Hubbard has two weeks to surrender to authorities, at which time he will be booked and fingerprinted on the 16th floor of the criminal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles Superior Court.
Hubbard was supposed to be arrested and booked today, but the case before Judge Leslie E. Brown was sent to the city of Santa Monica, then to the Airport branch near Los Angeles International Airport due to a legal confusion on which judge should hear the case.
Christiansen stands accused of eight felony counts, six of which stem from a conflicts of interest charge.