Former L.A. school dean pleads no contest in sex case
Alan Hubbard, 49, is sentenced to three years probation, community service and fines for his alleged cover-up in assistant principal Steve Thomas Rooney's molestation-related case.
A former Los Angeles school dean has pleaded no contest this morning to charges of failing to turn over evidence related to an unlawful sexual relationship between an underage student and a teacher.
As part of a plea agreement, Alan Hubbard, 49, was sentenced to three years of probation, 60 days of service on a road crew and $220 in fines for his part in the molestation-related case of Steve Thomas Rooney.
Prosecutors had alleged that Hubbard, a dean at Foshay Learning Center in South Los Angeles, learned of an illicit relationship between Rooney, who'd been a Foshay teacher, and a former student of Rooney's. Instead of going to authorities, Hubbard allegedly hid a romantic scrapbook prepared by the girl and discouraged her from testifying against Rooney.
Rooney first came to the attention of authorities in early 2007, when police arrested him for allegedly waving a gun at the girl's stepfather.
During the investigation, detectives became convinced that Rooney was having a relationship with the girl. Investigators dropped the gun case for lack of evidence. And no sex-related case was filed because the girl refused to testify, police said.
After his initial arrest, officials with the Los Angeles Unified School District removed Rooney from his job as an assistant principal at Fremont High in South Los Angeles. But after no charges were filed, the district reassigned Rooney to an assistant principal position at Markham Middle School in Watts in the fall 2007.
Rooney subsequently was arrested in early 2008 on sex charges related to two Markham students. The school district has been harshly criticized for reassigning Rooney without conducting its own inquiry into the case.
Rooney is awaiting trial.
Hubbard's case concluded today, with the no contest plea leading to a felony conviction on one count. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed a second charge of obstructing justice, which referred to Hubbard's alleged efforts to dissuade the girl from cooperating with police.
The effect of today's plea on Hubbard's teaching career was not immediately certain, said attorney Randolph K. Driggs, who represents Hubbard. Hubbard has been removed from contact with students since police broadened their investigation to include his alleged involvement.
howard.blume@latimes.com
