False Allegations

False Allegations and Misinformation Target Pueblo Political Candidates

Unjust Local  Investigative Feature – October 2025

In an era where social media spreads faster than fact, Pueblo voters have once again become targets of misinformation. A viral Facebook post circulating through local political groups claims that three Pueblo politicians and candidates - Steven Rodriguez, Sam Hernandez, and Regina Maestri - were involved in domestic violence incidents.

The post names names, accuses individuals of harassment, stalking, and threats, and urges voters to “vote no,” file police reports, or join class-action lawsuits. It even throws in personal commentary about religion and political affiliation - none of which are relevant to the accusations.

But when the smoke clears and the facts are checked against public records, election filings, and court dockets, the accusations fall apart.

The Source of the Misinformation

The Facebook post originated in early October 2025 from a locally themed political group that has previously shared unverified claims about city council members. The post asserted:

• Steven Rodriguez allegedly committed domestic violence against a former spouse.

• Sam Hernandez supposedly faced contempt of court and multiple restraining orders.

• Regina Maestri was accused of a domestic dispute, bankruptcy, and “lying about being a conservative Christian.”

None of these claims cite case numbers, police reports, or official documentation - just narrative commentary and political invective.

Worse still, the post confuses Sam Hernandez with Ted Hernandez, the actual 2025 District 3 City Council candidate running against Joe Perko. Sam Hernandez’s name does not appear on any Pueblo ballot this election cycle.

Verifying the Facts

To verify or refute these claims, Unjust Local searched multiple official databases and news archives:

1. Colorado Judicial Branch (10th Judicial District – Pueblo County):
   No criminal cases, including domestic-violence filings, were found for Steven Rodriguez, Samuel Hernandez, or Regina Maestri matching their profiles.

2. Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office and Jail Roster:
   No arrests or bookings were listed for any of the three individuals in relation to domestic-violence charges.

3. Pueblo City Clerk & County Election Office:
   Confirmed that Ted Hernandez — not Sam Hernandez — is running for office in 2025.

4. Mainstream News Outlets (Pueblo Chieftain, KOAA, KRDO):
   No credible coverage or court reporting substantiates the domestic-violence allegations.
   The Pueblo Chieftain did publish a July 2025 article incorrectly stating that Sam Hernandez was a candidate. That misprint may have unintentionally triggered this misinformation cascade.

How the Confusion Spread

This is a textbook example of how misinformation grows in a small-city political environment:

1. A legitimate newspaper error (misnaming Sam Hernandez as a candidate) plants the seed.

2. Social media activists, often with partisan motives, amplify it with unverified personal allegations.

3. Commenters add emotion, bias, and rumor, conflating unrelated issues like religion, bankruptcy, or past online arguments.

4. Within days, hundreds of shares and screenshots create the illusion of truth - a modern version of the “telephone game.”

By the time corrections appear, the damage is already done. Reputations suffer, public trust erodes, and voters are left unsure of what’s real.

Understanding the Harm

Domestic violence is a serious issue, and legitimate cases must be handled with due process and respect for victims. But false or unverified claims harm both the accused and actual victims by:

• Diluting legitimate domestic-violence reporting.

• Undermining public confidence in real investigations.

• Creating political “smear campaigns” that use trauma as a weapon.

Spreading false criminal accusations can also constitute defamation, particularly when tied to identifiable individuals running for office. Even repeating an unverified claim without verification can be legally risky for posters or page administrators.

The Role of Responsible Journalism

Good investigative journalism - and ethical citizen reporting - requires verification before publication. Responsible outlets:

• Cite primary sources: Court dockets, police records, or public statements.

• Avoid editorial bias: Political affiliation or personal lifestyle is irrelevant to a criminal accusation.

• Acknowledge corrections: Errors happen; integrity comes from promptly fixing them.

Unfortunately, the Facebook post in question violates every principle of credible reporting. It mixes political bias with unsubstantiated claims, uses inflammatory language, and calls for punitive action against individuals based on rumor.

What the Records Actually Show

Here’s what can be confirmed:

Name	Current Status	Verified Domestic-Violence Case?	Notes
Steven Rodriguez	Civil service candidate	❌ None found	No charges in Pueblo County records.
Sam Hernandez	Not on ballot in 2025	❌ None found	Misidentified; confusion likely caused by earlier reporting error.
Ted Hernandez	Running for District 3 seat	❌ None found	The actual candidate — not accused in any reports.
Regina Maestri	Incumbent council member, running at-large	❌ None found	Has faced ethical disputes, but no domestic-violence filings.

The Irrelevance of Religion and Politics

The post’s reference to Regina Maestri’s faith and party affiliation is a textbook red herring - irrelevant to the accusation and included only to stir division. A person’s religious beliefs or political alignment have no bearing on whether they have committed a crime.

Conflating those issues distracts from legitimate oversight and contributes to public cynicism toward both government and the press.

How to Verify Before You Share

Before sharing or reacting to sensational posts - especially around election season - consider these steps:

1. Check official court databases before assuming an accusation is true.

2. Cross-verify with mainstream outlets that maintain editorial accountability.

3. Ask for documentation - if a post claims to have screenshots, case numbers, or restraining orders, demand they be cited publicly.

4. Beware of emotionally charged language. Terms like “harassed,” “stalked,” or “lied about being Christian” are often staged to enrage, not provide facts.

5. Remember that mistakes compound online. A single misnamed candidate can cascade into weeks of confusion.

Truth Still Matters

Pueblo’s local elections are increasingly shaped by social-media narratives rather than civic discourse. The recent Facebook post accusing Steven Rodriguez, Sam Hernandez, and Regina Maestri of domestic violence is a cautionary tale - a mix of rumor, bias, and fact-checking failure.

At the end of the day, truth still matters.
Voters deserve accurate information, candidates deserve due process, and journalists - professional or citizen - carry a moral obligation to verify before amplifying.