Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez was arrested following an investigation conducted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit. The case accelerated after a Coachella city employee was arrested last week on charges of embezzlement and bribery. According to multiple sources, the probe widened to include Hernandez and others linked to him, leading to the presentation of evidence before a Riverside County Grand Jury. The grand jury reportedly found sufficient grounds to indict and arrest Hernandez on charges of perjury and conflict of interest.
Investigators are said to be focusing on Hernandez’s connections to properties tied to homeless resources managed by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG). CVAG oversees regional programs funded by member cities, including Coachella, to assist the homeless population. Officials believe additional irregularities surfaced as the inquiry progressed.
Hernandez, who also serves as Chief of Staff to Riverside County Supervisor Manny Perez, was taken into custody earlier today but has since posted bail. Supervisor Perez has not yet issued a public statement regarding the arrest. Community leaders are now calling for transparency and accountability as the city prepares to navigate the fallout. The Coachella City Council is expected to appoint an interim mayor while the legal process unfolds.
By: NBC Palm Springs
October 28, 2025
