By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A sentencing hearing for former St. John the Baptist Parish President Bill Hubbard that was originally scheduled for later this month has once again been pushed back, said a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Orleans.

Federal prosecutors last week asked for a 60-day continuance in the sentencing, which had been scheduled for June 29 at U.S. District Court in New Orleans.

The former parish president, who pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in September, will now be sentenced at 10 a.m. on Aug. 31.

Hubbard’s sentencing, originally scheduled for Dec. 15, has now been delayed four times.

Prosecutors have cited cooperation from Hubbard regarding the investigation and other scheduling conflicts as reasons for the continuances.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said this most recent continuance was filed by federal prosecutors and agreed to by Hubbard’s attorney, Donald “Chick” Foret.

Hubbard, 46, resigned from office on Sept. 23 and pleaded guilty to soliciting $20,000 in bribes from three parish contractors, according to court documents.

He then used the money as a down payment on a new Toyota Camry for a woman he was involved with.

In the weeks following Hubbard’s guilty plea, parish officials asked St. John District Attorney Tom Daley to review the four contracts the parish had with the vendors.

All four contracts have since been terminated.

Foret said previously that Hubbard has cooperated fully with federal investigators.