Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez Faces Multiple Felony Charges Amid Corruption Probe

Steven Andrew Hernandez, the mayor of Coachella, California, was arrested and charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, including perjury and conflict of interest related to his votes and contracts involving the Coachella Valley Association of Governments' Housing First Program and downtown development projects. Hernandez pleaded not guilty and was released on a $112,500 bail, with a trial-setting conference scheduled. If convicted, he faces a lifetime ban from public office and over seven years in state prison, though probation is possible due to his lack of prior criminal history. The city is cooperating with authorities, and Hernandez has been placed on administrative leave from his county government role. Additionally, unrelated criminal cases include a felon charged with first-degree murder in Coachella and a man in San Antonio charged with murder after shooting his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend.