Constituents and at least one public official are calling on Trumbull County Commissioner Rick Hernandez to resign for "lying" to and deceiving the public.

During a busy Commissioners meeting Wednesday, 21 News pressed county leaders on whether Hernandez should be held accountable for a lack of transparency. 

This follows an arrest in recent weeks in connection with a Hubbard massage parlor raid that brought charges including alleged solicitation, promoting prostitution and practicing medicine without a valid license at 3C Foot Spa, which was housed in a building that's owned by Trumbull County Commissioner Rick Hernandez.

On Monday, a 21 News Watchdog report laid out police body camera footage that was released last week. The video shows Rick Hernandez had acknowledged alleged criminal activity in the building. 

These developments have left Hubbard twp. Trustee Jason Tedrow and some residents "up in arms," after watching the footage, given Hernandez had repeatedly told the public during his campaign that there was "nothing" going on at the 3C Foot Spa and also defended the business: statements Hernandez made after police went to meet with him to make it "clear" that he knew what was allegedly going on.

During the meeting, some residents and Tedrow expressed concern and criticized the way Hernandez handled the alleged activity. 

"He was knowingly allowing a business like that to continue to operate in our community," Tedrow said, "He continued to profit from it. He continued to aid and abet its ability to do that by lying to the residents of Hubbard Township and all of Trumbull County."

Tedrow said he's been hearing from people in the township who, along with him, want Hernandez to step down after seeing what has come to light. 

"The shame he's brought to our community, as well as now on the board, within his first three months of his term I think is an absolute disgrace," he said, "He absolutely should step down from this position at this point, and that's why we're here today." 

Following the meeting, 21 News asked Hernandez on camera if he would resign given the concerns. 

He said in part, "Absolutely not. That's up to the voters. I'm here to move this county forward. We've been doing an excellent job with these three commissioners. And to answer that question, as far as I am concerned, I am not going anywhere. This is going to have to be up to the voters, and it's going to be three and a half years down the road or more." adding, "If they were in my shoes, they would understand the situation that was going on."

Hernandez has acknowledged the contradictory statements he's made but doubled down that it's his lack of experience as a landlord and legal advice from an attorney he has refused to name that are enough to put the issue to bed.

21 News repeatedly asked Hernandez to justify why he was not only complicit, but went as far as to defend the business for months after he was made aware there were undercover officers with growing concerns over what police told Hernandez was abnormal behavior surrounding the business. 

Hernandez said he didn't believe there was enough police evidence last summer and that it was the police department that should have acted sooner.

"There was a concern," Hernandez said, "A lot of questions, and I did ask questions to both the tenant and to the attorney, and at that point in time, it just wasn't the timing to shut them down due to my lease agreement." 

Although Hernadez had told police last summer that the lease was up in December 2024, he clarified with 21 News that he had misspoken and the lease was actually up in March 2025. 

He also said he thought he'd be sued by tenants if he took action, as his lease agreement did not include clauses that protect him for any potential criminal activity.

Despite legalities, he wouldn't explain why he told constituents it was a "non-issue" after talking with police and also said in September 2024 that the business would soon be opened back up, as the alleged activity had been ongoing. 

"He vowed to reopen the business and allow it to reopen, knowing that that was going on as he sat there and said, 'I'm collecting $1,200 a month rent,'" Tedrow said.

Hernandez said he was told "the agreement did not have a clause in it that mentioned drugs, any kind of unlawful, illegal activity," and added, "I'm new at this. I don't have any other buildings. It's the only building that I had. And so, you know, I copied that from my accountant, and the information that I had in the lease agreement was exactly what the accountant had in his lease agreement, with some little added addendums to it. But yeah, so there was no opportunity due to the fact that, you know, there was no verbiage in the lease agreement to allow me to evict before the contract ended." 

21 News asked Commissioner Denny Malloy if he regrets defending the massage parlor business in past commissioner's meetings when concerns were brought up and whether he thinks Hernandez should be held accountable.

"I think we need to defend everybody. Just hearsay, social media posts..." Malloy said, "When things were found, when there was an arrest, and things changed, absolutely."

He added, "Apparently, they did what they did and found what they found. But there was a legitimate business there, for all intents and purposes. I don't think anybody's responsible for everything that goes on their building." 

"I'm gonna actually sit here and hope that Denny was deceived by him," Tedroew said, "like everybody else has been. And if he wasn't, he needs to step up and answer for his ability to partake in this as well. It's wrong."

Malloy, like Hernandez, said it's up to voters to decide how they feel and calls this matter a "distraction."

He voiced criticisms toward the police involved as his main concern, adding that law enforcement should have moved faster to make an arrest, although police previously noted they would have made an arrest sooner if the tenants were in the area. 

"They were asking him to mop up their mess because they couldn't make an arrest," he said, "My job when I hit the bench is to be professional and do what's best for the county."

"There was enough for an arrest that day. The problem was the girls weren't there," Tedrow said, "If you actually look at the police reports, they had charging documents, the people not being there doesn't wipe away with the crimes that were going on there. And he, 100%, should have taken some sort of action, or at least been honest with the community, saying, 'Hey, this is what the police brought to me. I'm going to seek legal counsel and been upfront and honest.'"

Malloy admitted he understands the concerns but wouldn't comment further on what he called a  "personal" issue for Hernandez to sort out: one that he said shouldn't involve public opinion.

"I'm not saying there's any excuse. I'm just saying what goes on outside of the board room, we need to worry about our economic future," he said, "I can only be responsible for the actions that I have and do the right thing for the people in the county.

21 News also asked Commissioner Tony Bernard where he stands, what his message is to residents as someone who's returned to the seat with a fresh perspective, and whether the apparent lack of transparency is acceptable. 

Bernard said if dishonesty and illegal activity were happening, he does have a problem with that. 

"I did see the body cam, and it did not look good, okay?" Bernard said, "But let's wait till the investigation comes out. I know there's a great concern. I have a great concern. If things were going on there that people say were going on there, then that bothers me."

He added, "We have a lot of problems here that haven't been addressed, and we're going to have to address those issues," and that he's trying to remain focused on budget problems. 

However, Bernard said if Hernandez "did indeed lie" then he'd have to pay consequences for that. 

Hernandez contacted 21 News Wednesday evening and said his attorney is releasing a statement Monday on why Hernandez went about this situation the way he did, although he still wouldn't yet provide the attorney's name. 

"I did my due diligence. There was an arrest, and when that happened, like I said, it won't happen in my town, and I closed that building," he said, adding the space will remain empty until he can find another tenant."