Judge to sentence Mike Hubbard ethics case Friday morning

A judge will decide whether former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, will go to prison and if so, for how long.

Hubbard is due in court Friday morning for sentencing on 12 counts of violating the state ethics law.

A jury convicted Hubbard on charges that he used his office to make money and improperly solicited lobbyists and company executives for investments and jobs.

Prosecutors want Hubbard to spend five years in a state prison and another 13 years on supervised release.

Hubbard defense lawyer Bill Baxley called the suggested sentence “ridiculously extreme.” Prosecutors argued in their sentence request that Hubbard betrayed the trust of voters and fellow lawmakers.

Prosecutors also want Hubbard to pay $1.6 million in fines and restitution.

Republished with permission of the Associated Press.