RIVERSIDE – District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced today, October 30, 2025, that a Riverside County criminal grand jury has returned a nine-count indictment against the mayor of Coachella, Steven Hernandez.

Steven Andrew Hernandez, DOB: 2-21-83, was indicted on one felony count of violating Government Code section 1090 (conflict of interest relating to government contracts), four felony counts of violating Penal Code section 118 (perjury), and four misdemeanor counts of violating Government Code section 87100 (conflicts of interest relating to governmental decisions).

The conflict-of-interest charges relate to 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 votes and advocacy related to downtown Coachella development projects. The perjury charges relate to claims made by Hernandez on his Statement of Economic Interests public disclosure forms, also known as the Form 700.

If convicted as currently charged, Hernandez would be barred for life from ever holding public office and face over seven years in state prison.

Hernandez surrendered to Riverside County Sheriff officials at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on October 28, 2025, and posted bail set in the amount of $112,500.

The grand jury indictment was unsealed when Hernandez was arraigned today at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. He pled not guilty to all charges. A trial readiness conference is scheduled for February 23. The case number is FEIN2502457.