By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday it has decided to again postpone sentencing for former St. John the Baptist Parish President Bill Hubbard and reset it for early 2011.

Hubbard resigned from office in September 2009, a day before pleading guilty to accepting bribes from parish contractors. His sentencing, which has been delayed multiple times, was pushed back again so that prosecutors can continue to evaluate the extent of Hubbard’s cooperation with the court. U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey granted the 90-day continuance motion, and the sentencing has been reset for Jan. 20, 2011, more than a year after the original sentencing date.

Authorities say Hubbard took $20,000 in bribes from three parish contractors and used the money to purchase a Toyota Camry for a female friend.

One of the contractors involved, Ray Davezac, owner of Davezac Consulting Engineers of Destrehan, pleaded guilty April 22 to paying a bribe to Hubbard. Sentencing in his case has been set for Nov. 18 before U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, but prosecutors have also postponed Davezac’s sentencing in the past.

Hubbard faces the possibility of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of probation following release from jail.

Hubbard was to appear in court Tuesday.