Inside the Grand Jury testimony of indicted Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez 

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) KESQ News Channel 3 continues to learn more from the grand jury transcript that led to the indictment of Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez.

The transcript is nearly 500 pages and forms the basis of a nine-count indictment returned by a Riverside County grand jury back on Oct. 30, 2025. Hernandez, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains mayor as the case moves forward. Hernandez is next due back in court on Feb. 23, 2026.

Prosecutors charged Hernandez with nine criminal counts:

• Four felony counts of perjury, tied to alleged false statements on required financial disclosure forms known as Form 700s
• One felony count of conflict of interest, tied to a city council vote on a contract with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG)
• Four misdemeanor conflict-of-interest counts, tied to other city votes and advocacy

According to court records and grand jury testimony, the felony conflict-of-interest charge centers on a May 2023 vote approving a contract between the City of Coachella and CVAG connected to the regional Housing First supportive housing program.

Prosecutors allege Hernandez voted to approve that contract while having a financial interest in properties used by the program, a situation they say should have required him to recuse himself.

Grand jury testimony shows CVAG Deputy Executive Director Erica Felci was present at the city council meeting where the contract was approved. CVAG has said it is cooperating with the investigation and has defended the Housing First program as a public benefit.

The four felony perjury counts relate to Hernandez’s Statements of Economic Interests, commonly known as Form 700s, which elected officials are required to file annually to disclose income, property, and financial interests.

According to testimony from investigators, Hernandez repeatedly selected the income category indicating he received less than $10,000 in gross rental income from certain properties. That reporting option does not require officials to list the tenant or source of the income.

Investigators told jurors they reviewed lease agreements, bank records, and payment history, and concluded the rental income from those properties appeared higher than what was disclosed. They testified the reported amounts did not align with what the properties should have generated in rent.

Prosecutors allege those discrepancies formed the basis of the perjury charges, arguing the disclosures were incomplete or inaccurate and affected whether Hernandez should have recused himself from related city decisions.

The four misdemeanor conflict-of-interest counts relate to additional city actions between 2021 and 2023, including:

• Advocacy and votes involving federal relief funding for the downtown fire station
• The Fountainhead Plaza development
• The Tripoli mixed-use housing project
• SunLine Transit Agency hub upgrades

Prosecutors allege Hernandez participated in those decisions despite having financial interests that should have required recusal.

The grand jury heard testimony from current and former city officials and regional leaders, including Coachella Mayor Pro Tem Denise Delgado, former Coachella City Councilmember Megan Beaman Jacinto, city economic development officials, CVAG leadership, and investigators with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Delgado testified her working relationship with Hernandez was “nonexistent,” describing City Hall as “toxic” and “hostile,” according to the transcript.

Beaman Jacinto testified about what she described as a longstanding political power structure in the city, telling jurors that some community members referred to it as “the Coachella boys.”

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorney has said the defense recognizes the seriousness of the case and will contest the allegations.

Riverside County confirmed Hernandez has been placed on indefinite paid administrative leave from his separate county position as chief of staff to Supervisor Manuel Perez. The county has said the allegations are unrelated to his county role.

The City of Coachella said it is aware of the allegations and is cooperating with authorities. A city spokesperson confirmed that this week's scheduled city council meeting for Jan. 14 has been canceled, saying the cancellation was logistical, not political.

The next regular council meeting is now scheduled for Jan. 28.

Hernandez remains mayor as the criminal case proceeds.

Stick with KESQ News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story.