OPELIKA, Ala. — State prosecutors are recommending convicted former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard serve one year in prison for each year he was speaker, followed by over a dozen years of probation, bringing his total sentence equal to the number of years he was a member of the House. Additionally, the state’s recommendation is that Hubbard pay over $1 million in restitution.
Hubbard is set to be sentenced by Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker on July 8, and the state is seeking 18 years total, split between five years of jail time and 13 years of probation.
The maximum penalty for Hubbard’s crimes is twenty years imprisonment and fines of up to $30,000.00 for each count, all of which are Class B Felonies.
“Hubbard flagrantly and repeatedly violated the Ethics Law in order to make money and obtain financial favors from individuals with interests in State government,” wrote prosectors Mike Duffy. “Despite being found guilty on the majority of the charges in the indictment, Hubbard continues to refuse to accept responsibility for his criminal conduct. This Court should impose a strong sentence to punish Hubbard, deter other public officials from violating the Ethics Laws, and help restore the people’s confidence in their government.”
Although Hubbard contended during the trial that he made “not a cent” off of his office, prosecutors say his illicit activities generated seven figures-worth of profits for him personally.
“In the course of committing the 12 felonies for which he stands convicted, Hubbard directly enriched himself and his businesses by $1,125,000.00,” Duffy wrote. “Further, Hubbard’s felonious enrichment occurred after he spearheaded the Republican takeover of the legislature based in large part on the promise of strengthening the State’s Ethics Laws and cleaning up what he termed the ‘culture of corruption.'”
Hubbard’s defense team called the prosecution’s recommendations “absurd.”
“It’s too absurd to respond to,” Bill Baxley, Hubbard’s lead attorney, told al.com. “Mark my words, the verdict will not stand.”
Hubbard is planning to appeal the jury’s verdict and will likely remain free on bond as the process unfolds.
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