The San Ysidro School board unanimously shot down a request to pick up the legal tab to defend their superintendent against criminal charges brought on by the District Attorney’s office.
The San Ysidro school district board voted on the proposal at its board meeting Wednesday night.
The district sought $100,000 in legal fees for Superintendent Manuel Paul, according to school board documents.
Paul is facing six felony criminal counts – two counts each of filing a false instrument, perjury by declaration, and accepting gifts in excess of legal limit.
Hernandez faces four felony counts -- two each of filing a false instrument and perjury by declaration.
Hernandez withdrew the request at the last minute Wednesday night. Paul was placed on a paid 45-day administrative leave, according to individuals who attended the meeting.
Prosecutors state the officials dined at expensive meals and took other gifts without reporting them and then filed state-mandated forms under penalty of perjury.
Paul and Hernandez are also involved in a separate federal investigation into a story NBC 7 Investigates first brought you in August involving the exchange of cash between a contractor and the superintendent in a restaurant parking lot.