MIAMI (WSVN) - Former Miami-Dade School Board member Lubby Navarro stayed quiet on Wednesday as she appeared in court for a status hearing for her charges of scheming to defraud and grand theft.
During the hearing, her attorney told the judge that they had submitted information to the State Attorney’s Office in regards to the source of funds Navarro used to pay her bond over the weekend.
As part of her bond, she also surrendered her passport and was fitted with an electronic monitoring device.
Navarro’s attorney. Michael Davis, said she denies all the charges against her.
“Ms. Navarro is unequivocally innocent of all charges that have been filed,” he said.
Prosecutors told the judge that they still need more information on the source of her bond money.
Davis also read a statement on behalf of Navarro.
“This effort to ruin her well deserved reputation as an honest, properly motivated community service, will be shown to be unjust,” he said as he read the statement.
Navarro is accused of going on a spending spree on the county’s dime while she served on the school board in 2022.
According to prosecutors, she spent more than $100,000 of taxpayers’ money on personal items.
She was arrested Thursday and had her bond set at $2 million, but her lawyer requested a lesser bond and got it lowered to $100,000.
On Saturday night, Navarro bonded out of jail and is currently on house arrest.
Her attorney said that her arraignment is set for sometime in February.
Following Navarro’s arrest, the Miami-Dade School Board agreed Wednesday to take a fresh look at board member spending and oversight.
M-DCPS Superintendent Dr. Jose Dotres said the school board recommended this move years ago, and action is now being taken.
“The board has taken action. More verification to the board member offices, my own office, the Office of General Council and the chief of staff will strengthen our organization again,” said Dotres.
The agreement to audit purchasing procedures comes after some school board members were concerned about Navarro’s lavish spending.
“It’s very concerning. We need to make a determination as to what happened,” said M-DCPS School Board Member Dr. Steve Gallon. “How was that allowed to happen? Was it a part of human error? Was it a part of human intent? Was it a combination of both?”
After the school board took action on the matter, the superintendent had a message to the public as the district looks to restore confidence and to revamp their spending procedures.
“Our taxpayers, I don’t want them to lose trust in us,” said Dotres.
Navarro’s arraignment has been scheduled for February.
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