Former Mayor Of PS In Court After Nearly A Decade In Delays

Nearly ten years after the FBI raided Palm Springs City Hall, former Mayor Steve Pougnet will finally face trial over a long-standing corruption scandal. On Thursday, Pougnet appeared at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, stating his eagerness to clear his name.

“It’s been almost 10 years since the investigation started,” he said. “There’s been countless delays, courtrooms. So finally, I’ll have my day in court to clear my name of the alleged accusations.”

Pougnet, who served as mayor from 2007 to 2015, is facing 21 felony charges, including bribery and perjury. Prosecutors allege that he accepted $375,000 over several years in exchange for supporting development projects spearheaded by real estate developer John Wessman and his associate Richard Meaney.

Among those developments is the high-profile Kimpton Rowan Hotel, a centerpiece of the revitalized downtown Palm Springs area. Despite the legal cloud, Pougnet expressed pride in the transformation of the city’s core.

“That site sat vacant for almost, what, 20–30 years,” he said. “A couple years ago, we were voted one of the top cities to visit in the world. That would not happen if downtown wasn’t booming. So I’m proud of that legacy downtown.”

The case has seen three previous trial dates pushed back since 2023, prolonging what has become one of the most drawn-out public corruption probes in recent California history. The trial is now set to begin Tuesday, May 6, in Banning, with jury selection expected to start that day. As more information is known NBC Palm Springs will continue the coverage.