By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
OPELIKA—In the matter of the State of Alabama v. Michael G. Hubbard: He is on trial for violating the State’s Ethics Laws. If convicted on any of the 23 felonies with which he is charged, Hubbard will be immediately removed from office. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison plus up to $30,000 fines for each crime.
The following is summary of the charges against Hubbard:
COUNT 1
Hubbard is charged as Chairman of the Republican Party: intentionally used his position or office for obtaining personal gain from the ALGOP by purchasing from Craftmaster Printers.
COUNT 2
Hubbard is charged as Chairman of the Republican Party: intentionally used his position or office for obtaining personal gain from the ALGOP by purchasing from Auburn Network.
COUNT 3
Hubbard is charged as Chairman of the Republican Party: intentionally used his position or office for obtaining personal gain from the ALGOP by purchasing from Majority Strategies, for himself or a business he with which he is associated, to wit: Craftmaster.
COUNT 4
Hubbard is charged as Chairman of the Republican Party: intentionally used his position or office for obtaining personal gain through Tim Howe d/b/a The Howe Group, LLC and/or SRM Media and Advertising, LLC for himself or a business with which he is associated, to wit: Auburn Network.
COUNT 5
Hubbard is charged as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives: “did intentionally vote for legislation to wit: Senate Bill 143 of the 2013 Regular Legislative Session, and he knew or should have known that he had a conflict of interest.”
SB143 was the bill in which Hubbard attempted to add 23 words making American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc. (APCI), the sole eligible provider for pharmacy benefits management in Alabama.
COUNT 6
Hubbard is charged as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives: soliciting or receiving a “thing of value” from APCI to Auburn Network.
COUNT 7
Hubbard is charged as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives of “such use and gain were not otherwise specifically authorized by law” from Southeast Alabama Gas District (SEAGD) to Auburn Network.
COUNT 8
Hubbard is charged as the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives as representing a person, firm, corporation, or other business entity, (SEAGD) before an Executive department or agency, The Alabama Department of Commerce.
COUNT 9
Hubbard is charged as the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives as representing a person, firm, corporation, or other business entity, (SEAGD) before an Executive department or agency, The Governor for the State of Alabama.
COUNT 10
Hubbard is charged as the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives for receiving from a lobbyist, subordinate of a lobbyist, or principal of Edgenuity, inc. and/or E2020 (a data provider specializing in online education software in Wetumpka) to Auburn Network.
COUNT 11
Hubbard was charged with using his office for personal gain in receiving money from Robert Abrams, DBA, CV Holdings, LLC., to Auburn Network, in violation of Section 36-25-5(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 12
Hubbard was charged with intentionally, for a fee, reward, or other compensation, “represent a person, firm, corporation, or other business entity, to wit,” Robert Abrams, DBA, CV Holdings, LLC., before an executive department or agency, The Alabama Department of Commerce, in violation of Section 36-25-1.1 of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 13
Hubbard is charged as the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives as representing a person, firm, corporation, or other business entity, Robert Abrams d/b/a CV Holdings, LLC before an executive department or agency, The Governor for the State of Alabama.
COUNT 14
Hubbard is charged as the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives as using equipment, facilities, time, materials, human labor, or other public property under his discretion or control, to wit: a State computer, a State email account, or the human labor and/or the time of himself and another State employee for the private benefit or business benefit of the public official from Robert Abrams d/b/a CV Holdings, LLC to Auburn Network.
COUNT 15
Hubbard was charged with: did materially solicit a thing of value, to wit: an investment in Craftmaster Printer, from a lobbyist, subordinate of a lobbyist, or principal, to wit: Dax Swatek, in violation of Section 36-25- 5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 16
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a $150,000.00 investment in Craftmaster Printer, from Will Brooke, Board Member of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), violation of Section 36-25- 5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 17
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a $150,000.00 investment in Craftmaster Printer, from James Holbrook and/or Sterne Agee Group, Inc., in violation of Section 36-25-5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama, against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 18
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a $150,000.00 investment in Craftmaster Printer, from Jimmy Rane, President of Great Southern Wood, in violation of Section 36-25-5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 19
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a $150,000.00 investment in Craftmaster Printer, from Robert Burton, President of Hoar Construction, m violation of Section 36-25-5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 20
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a thing of value from Bob Riley, in violation of Section 36-25-5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 21
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a thing of value, consulting assistance, from Minda Riley Campbell, in violation of Section 36-25-5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 22
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a thing of value from Billy Canary , in violation of Section 36-25-5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
COUNT 23
Hubbard was charged with intentionally soliciting, of receiving a thing of value by receiving assistance with obtaining new clients for Auburn Network and/or financial advice regarding Craftmaster Printers, from Will Brooke, Board Member of the Business Council of Alabama (“BCA”), in violation of Section 36-25-5.1(a) of the Code of Alabama (1975), against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.
