CALIFORNIA – The Riverside County district attorney Mike Hestrin announced October 30 that a county criminal grand jury has returned a nine-count indictment against Coachella mayor Steven Hernandez.
Hernandez, 42, was indicted on one felony count of conflict of interest involving government contracts, four felony counts of perjury, and four misdemeanor counts of conflicts of interest related to governmental decisions.
The conflict-of-interest charges stem from Hernandez’s vote to approve a contract between the City of Coachella and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments’ Housing First Program, as well as his involvement in downtown development projects.
The perjury charges stem from statements Hernandez made on his Form 700, the public disclosure of his financial interests.
Faces seven years in prison
If convicted on all charges, Hernandez faces more than seven years in state prison and a lifetime ban from holding public office.
Hernandez surrendered to Riverside County sheriff’s officials at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on October 28 and was released after posting $112,500 bail.
The grand jury indictment was unsealed during Hernandez’s arraignment today at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial readiness conference is set for February 23.
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