A gavel. (File photo courtesy UC Berkeley Law)
Coachella Mayor Steven Andrew Hernandez pleaded not guilty to nearly a dozen felony and misdemeanor charges Thursday on which he was indicted for alleged illicit acts connected to his decisions on development projects in the city.
Hernandez, 42, is charged with four counts each of conflict of interest in government business and perjury, as well as one count of conflict of interest in a public sector contract.
The charges were revealed after a Riverside County Grand Jury indictment was unsealed during the defendant’s arraignment Thursday before Superior Court Judge Dean Benjamini, who scheduled a trial-setting conference for Feb. 23 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
The mayor is free on a $112,500 bond.
“The conflict-of-interest charges relate to Hernandez’s vote to approve a contract between … Coachella and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments’ `Housing First Program,’ as well as his votes and advocacy related to downtown Coachella development programs,” a District Attorney’s Office statement said Thursday.
“The perjury charges relate to claims made by Hernandez on his ‘Statement of Economic Interests’ public disclosure forms.”
Those documents fall under the designation “Form 700” by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which says they’re necessary for the public to know “about an official’s personal financial interests, to ensure that officials are making decisions in the best interest of the public and not enhancing their personal finances.”
The direct monetary or other potential benefits Hernandez reaped from his alleged fraudulent activity was not disclosed by prosecutors.
The D.A.’s office said a conviction on all or some of the charges would mean a prohibition from ever holding any public office statewide in the future, as well as a possible seven-year prison sentence, though given the mayor’s lack of prior criminal history, he’d likely only face a term of probation.
On Wednesday, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Manuel Perez confirmed that Hernandez, who is the chair’s chief of staff, had been placed on “indefinite” leave.
“The allegations against Steven Hernandez are serious,” Perez said. “He has been placed on indefinite administrative leave from the county. Although we are still waiting on more details, it’s our understanding that the charges are unrelated to his role in our office.”
Hernandez was arrested Tuesday by D.A.’s office investigators and booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside. He posted bond hours later and was released.
“The city is aware of allegations made regarding Coachella Mayor Steven A. Hernandez, and the city’s administration is fully cooperating with authorities,” a municipal statement said Tuesday. “There is no additional information available to share at this time.”
It was unclear whether the mayor intended to continue on in his elective position, or might step aside while his case is adjudicated.
Hernandez was first elected mayor in 2014 and has been Perez’s right hand man for nearly as much time.
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