Steven Hernandez Establishes Legal Defense Fund

Indicted Coachella Mayor Sets Up Legal Defense Fund

COACHELLA — Mayor Steven A. Hernandez, who has been 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, has set up a legal defense fund to help offset the cost of his legal expenses.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, total contributions to the fund were $73,500. Torrance-based Tower Energy Corp., which owns Tower Market, is  the sole contributor donating $7,500. Tower Energy Corp. representatives did not return multiple phone calls from Uken Report.

The balance of the total contributions was made up by a $66,000 loan Hernandez made to himself. Hernandez did not respond to phone calls or text messages from Uken Report seeking comment.

The Coachella City Clerk received the Form 460 on Feb. 2, 2025, for the period covering July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.

Shery Yang, communications director for the Fair Political Practices Commission. which oversees Legal Defense Funds, said data on how common it is for a local officeholder in California to set up a legal defense fund is not available. Suffice it t0 say it is rare.

A candidate or officer may establish a legal defense account under Section 85304 regardless of whether the individual is also a local candidate or local elected officer. Legal defense funds may only be raised in an amount reasonably calculated to pay, and may only be expended for, attorney’s fees and other related legal costs. (A) “Attorney’s fees and other related legal costs” includes only the following: (i) Attorney’s fees and other legal costs related to the defense of the candidate or officer. (ii) Administrative costs directly related to compliance with the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (d) and the recordkeeping requirements of subdivision (c) of this regulation. For more details, please visit: https://lunar.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/LegalDiv/Regulations/Index/Chapter5/18530.4%20Legal%20Defense%20Funds%20-%20State%20Candidates%20and%20Officers..pdf

Hernandez is represented by Alex Lowder a Los Angeles-based attorney,

He is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial readiness conference hearing on March 24

Hernandez is innocent of all charges until he is proven guilty in a court of law. He remains Mayor of Coachella and is on paid administrative leave where is employed as Chief of Staff for Supervisor V. Manuel Perez.