Jury Begins Deliberating Case Against Ex-BHUSD Superintendent

Jury deliberations began Thursday in the case against former Beverly Hills Unified School District Superintendent , who is facing three felony misappropriation of public funds charges. 

Hubbard, 54, allegedly approved $20,000 in stipends and a $500 car allowance raise for former BHUSD facilities director Karen Christiansen without school board consent. He is also charged with authorizing a pay increase to former district employee Nora Roque in May 2005 without the board's approval.  

"He was arrogant," Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman told the seven-man, five-woman jury during his closing arguments. "He felt that as superintendent he could do whatever he wanted and he didn't care what the rules were."

Christiansen's contract included a $150 monthly car allowance, and all changes to the contract were supposed to be made in writing, Huntsman said.

Defense attorney Salvatore P. Ciulla countered during his closing arguments that although mistakes were made, Hubbard did not commit a crime. He also said Hubbard gave Roque a pay bump with the intent to put her on a salary schedule under which she would receive annual increases—something Hubbard said Roque was told would happen when she was hired.

"He's going to put his job on the line and possibly go to jail?" Ciulla asked. "It makes no sense." 

Hubbard has pleaded not guilty to all three charges. He served as BHUSD superintendent from 2004-6. In July 2006, he took over the superintendent position at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Huntsman also alleged that Hubbard and Christiansen had a "special relationship" because the two with one another.

"It was certainly not the average employer-employee relationship," he said. 

Christiansen, 53, was to four years and four months in prison. She was  in November of four felony conflict of interest charges for secretly negotiating to be an independent BHUSD contractor while performing her duties for the district. Christiansen was hired by the district in 2004 and reportedly received a total of $5.2 million from BHUSD between 2006 and 2009. 

Ciulla described the emails between Hubbard and Christiansen as "tongue-in-cheek inappropriate comments." But he said the communications do not demonstrate a romantic relationship existed.

This report was compiled with information from City News Service.  

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