Hubbard’s lawyer calls proposed sentence ‘absurd’

Prosecutors seek five years prison, 13 years probation for former Ala. House speaker

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A lawyer for former House Speaker Mike Hubbard said Friday that prosecutors are seeking an “absurd” prison sentence after Hubbard’s conviction on ethics charges.

Defense lawyer Bill Baxley criticized the requested prison sentence of five years in a state prison and 13 years of supervised probation. Prosecutors are also asking for Hubbard to pay $1.6 million in fines and restitution.

“It doesn’t even deserve a reply it is so ridiculously extreme,” Baxley said. “It ought to be treated like comments out of North Korea.”

A judge will sentence Hubbard on July 8 after his conviction on 12 felony ethics violations. A jury on June 10 convicted Hubbard on charges that he improperly solicited consulting contracts and financial favors and then used his office to benefit his clients. The panel also convicted Hubbard, closely associated with the business wing of the state GOP, on charges that he asked corporate executives to make $150,000 investments in his debt-ridden printing companies. He was automatically removed from office after the guilty verdicts.

The proposed sentence mirrors the 18 years Hubbard spent in the Alabama Legislature, including five he spent as speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Prosecutors wrote in their filing Thursday that Hubbard betrayed the trust of voters in his district and of legislators who elected him as House speaker.

“His betrayal of his constituents, his fellow House members, and the citizens of Alabama warrants a strong, meaningful sentence in order to punish him, deter other public officials from violating the Ethics Laws, and help restore the people’s trust in their government,” prosecutors wrote.

In their brief, prosecutors listed the sentences handed down for other corruption convictions, including former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman’s six-year sentence after being convicted of selling a state board appointment to a contributor to his 1999 campaign to establish a state lottery.

Hubbard is expected to seek an appeal bond so he can remain free while he appeals his conviction. Prosecutors said they will oppose that request.

“IT DOESN’T EVEN DESERVE A REPLY IT IS SO RIDICULOUSLY EXTREME. IT OUGHT TO BE TREATED LIKE COMMENTS OUT OF NORTH KOREA.” – DEFENSE LAWYER BILL BAXLEY