Coachella Mayor Steven Andrew Hernandez is scheduled to appear in Riverside County Superior Court today after being arrested Tuesday morning. Hernandez was arrested on multiple felony charges including perjury and conflict of interest, according to Riverside County jail records and city officials.
Hernandez, 42, was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside at 10:35 a.m. on Oct. 28. Jail records show he was arrested on five felony counts of perjury, one felony count of conflict of interest, and four misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest. His bail was set at $112,500, and he was released later the same day.
According to officials familiar with the case, Hernandez self-surrendered to authorities prior to booking. The charges stem from a grand jury indictment, though the case file and charging documents remain sealed pending arraignment.
Hernandez is scheduled to appear in Riverside County Superior Court on Thursday.
The City of Coachella acknowledged the arrest Tuesday and said the city is cooperating with authorities. No additional details regarding the allegations have been released.
Hernandez also serves in a senior role with Riverside County government as chief of staff to Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. The county confirmed that Hernandez has been placed on indefinite administrative leave from that position in light of the charges.
Hernandez, a prominent figure in local and regional politics, has served on the Coachella City Council since 2010 and has been mayor since 2016. He has also held leadership roles in regional planning and transportation boards, including the Coachella Valley Association of Governments.
Because the indictment remains under seal, no specific financial transactions or governmental decisions involved in the alleged conflict of interest have been publicly disclosed.
More information is expected to become available after the arraignment.
