Superintendent headed back to court Aug. 26

LOS ANGELES — Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard is set to appear in court again later this month to schedule a trial date and present motions.

Hubbard was in a Los Angeles Superior Court without his attorney, Salvador P. Ciulla, on Monday. An initial date of Sept. 16 was set, but Hubbard wanted court proceedings moved up.

The court will hear motions from attorneys and set a trial date on Aug. 26.

Hubbard is charged with two felony counts of misappropriating public funds while working as the superintendent for the Beverly Hills Unified School District.

Prosecutors allege Hubbard misappropriated $20,000 to former Facilities Director Karen Anne Christiansen without the school board’s consent and gave her an unauthorized increase in her car allowance.

He was on leave from January until late June to prepare his defense.

In July, the Daily Pilot reported that Hubbard refused a plea bargain from prosecutors, saying in a January email to school board members “I’m not guilty — period.”

Some members of the Newport-Mesa school district, including President Walt Davenport, have publicly supported Hubbard.

He is not expected to testify against Christiansen in her trial.

— Lauren Williams