Former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Conspiracy Charges Ahead of Trial

Former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet has pleaded guilty to a series of serious charges stemming from a high-profile corruption case that has gripped the city for nearly a decade.

Pougnet faced nine counts of bribery, eight counts of conflict of interest, three counts of perjury, and one count of conspiracy. He pleaded guilty to all charges except the perjury counts, to which he entered no contest pleas. The plea deal came during a hearing before a Superior Court judge, just as Pougnet’s trial was set to begin.

The case dates back to 2015 when FBI agents and Riverside County investigators raided Palm Springs City Hall in search of evidence. The investigation led to Pougnet and prominent local developer John Wessman being indicted in 2019 following an initial 2017 criminal filing.

Pougnet, who once served as a high-profile civic leader in Palm Springs, spoke earlier this month to NBC Palm Springs. While the details of that conversation were not immediately disclosed, his guilty plea marks a dramatic fall from grace and could have far-reaching implications for both his legacy and the city’s political history.

The charges centered around allegations of Pougnet accepting bribes in exchange for advancing Wessman’s development projects and other related conflicts of interest.

The case is expected to proceed to sentencing, with local officials and the public closely watching what comes next for both Pougnet and Wessman.

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