Coachella mayor faces criminal charges, launches legal defense fund

Residents criticize mayor's use of taxpayer money to fight perjury and conflict of interest allegations.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:05am

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Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez is under fire after launching a legal defense fund to fight nine criminal charges, including perjury and conflict of interest. While he remains on the city payroll, furious residents are questioning the mayor's use of taxpayer money to fund his personal legal battles.

Why it matters

The mayor's legal troubles have eroded public trust and raised concerns about government accountability and transparency in the city of Coachella. Residents are demanding that the mayor either step down or use his own personal funds to cover his legal expenses.

The details

Mayor Hernandez is facing a slew of criminal charges, including perjury, conflict of interest, and misuse of public funds. The charges stem from allegations that he used his position to secure lucrative city contracts for his private business interests. Despite the ongoing legal issues, Hernandez has refused to resign and has instead launched a taxpayer-funded legal defense fund to fight the charges.

  • On March 15, 2026, Hernandez announced the creation of a legal defense fund to cover his mounting legal expenses.
  • The criminal charges against Hernandez were first filed in January 2026.

The players

Steven Hernandez

The mayor of Coachella, California, who is facing nine criminal charges, including perjury and conflict of interest.

Coachella residents

Furious residents of Coachella who are criticizing the mayor's use of taxpayer money to fund his personal legal battles.

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What they’re saying

“The mayor's use of public funds to defend himself is an outrageous abuse of power. He should be using his own money, not ours, to fight these charges.”

— Jamal Ramirez, Coachella resident

“If the mayor has done nothing wrong, he should have no problem using his own money to clear his name. But the fact that he's tapping into taxpayer funds is a clear sign of guilt.”

— Maria Gonzalez, Coachella resident

What’s next

The city council is expected to hold a special meeting next week to discuss the mayor's legal defense fund and whether taxpayer money should be used to cover his legal expenses.

The takeaway

The mayor's legal troubles have eroded public trust and raised serious questions about government accountability in Coachella. Residents are demanding that the mayor either step down or use his own personal funds to cover his legal expenses, rather than relying on taxpayer money.