UPDATE: Hernandez Set to Appear in Court on Monday

UPDATE:

The Hernandez’ hearing was continued to 3/24.

Coachella Mayor Scheduled to Appear in Court on Feb. 23

COACHELLA — The embattled mayor of Coachella, Steven Hernandez, is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a pre-trial readiness conference according to Molly Smith, public information officer for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

A trial readiness conference is held right before trial to determine if both the prosecution and defense are prepared to move forward with trial. Both parties have the opportunity to finalize dates for trial and finalize the evidence and witness lists.

No evidence is presented in open court during this type of hearing.

Hernandez, 43, was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in October. His bail was set at $112,500. He posted bail was posted the same day and he was released.

He was arrested by investigators from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. He was then indicted by a grand jury on one felony count of conflict of interest, four felony counts of perjury, and four misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest.

Hernandez is innocent of all charges until he is proven guilty in a court of law. He remains Mayor of Coachella. He also remains on paid administrative leave from Riverside County where he is employed as Supervisor V, Manuel Perez’s chief of staff.

The conference is set for 8:30 a.m.