Former Beverly Hills School District Employee Being Held On $2M Bail
BEVERLY HILLS (CBS) — A former facilities director for the Beverly Hills Unified School District is being held on $2 million bail for allegedly misappropriating public funds.
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KNX 1070's Chris Sedens Reports
Karen Ann Christiansen, 52, was taken into custody after appearing before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Cynthia Rayvis, according to Jane Robison of the District Attorney's Office.
Jeffrey Hubbard, 53, a former district superintendent who is also accused in the case, was allowed to remain free on his own recognizance. Hubbard currently serves as superintendent of Newport Mesa Unified School District in Orange County.
The two are scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 3 in Beverly Hills Superior Court, Robison said.
Hubbard and Christiansen are both charged with two counts each of misappropriation of public funds. She is additionally charged with five counts of conflict of interest.
Hubbard is accused of giving Christiansen increases in her car allowance that were unauthorized by the board.
Christiansen was hired by the school district in 2004 at an annual salary of $113,000, but is accused of secretly negotiating a contract to be an independent contractor while performing the same duties, according to the District Attorney's Office.
She was paid $5.2 million by the school district between 2006 and 2009, officials said.
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