Ex-CSUB basketball coach sentenced for pimping, firearm-related charges

A former Bakersfield college basketball coach has been sentenced to prison for possessing child sex abuse material and operating a prostitution ring across three states.

Kevin Mays, who previously served as an assistant coach at Cal State University Bakersfield and was once a player in the program, received a four-year prison sentence on Thursday. He has also been ordered to register as a sex offender for life, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.

Earlier this month, Mays entered a no-contest plea to felony charges that included possession of child or youth pornography, pimping, and possessing a controlled substance while armed with a firearm.

This plea agreement significantly reduced his potential legal consequences. Initially, Mays faced nearly a dozen felony and misdemeanor charges, but prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining charges, according to The Bakersfield Californian.

Authorities revealed that Mays managed a 22-year-old prostitute who operated out of hotels in California, Oregon, and Las Vegas.

The Kern County District Attorney’s Office stated that Mays coordinated her clients, reserved her hotel rooms, and used his CSUB account to rent a luxury car for her.

The investigation that led to Mays’ dismissal and arrest was triggered by an anonymous email sent to the university in August 2025, accusing him of pimping. This occurred just a few months after he was hired.

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Two months into Mays’ employment, CSUB head coach Rod Barnes received an urgent email titled “IMPORTANT MESSAGE 911 911,” ESPN reported earlier this year.

The email accused Mays of “trafficking a girl since May.”

“FIX IT OR THE WHOLE STAFF WILL FALL,” was the message’s warning.

Barnes forwarded the email to CSUB’s human resources department, which then passed it to university police, prompting an investigation.

Police traced the victim through a sex ad in Sacramento and conducted a sting operation disguised as a “date” in September. The woman referred to Mays as her “boyfriend” and said he often covered expenses for hotels, rental cars, and flights related to her work.

Mays was arrested the following day after police executed search warrants on his car and residence, KBAK reported.

Inside his car, officers discovered multiple firearms and a significant quantity of drugs. His phone contained approximately 600 photos of children, some as young as 4 years old.

Mays faced charges that included felonies like pimping and possession of automatic firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana with intent to sell, and child pornography.

Mays’ defense attorney, David Torres, conveyed to the Bakersfield Californian that his client felt “truly remorseful.”

“Mr. Mays is relieved that all of this is behind him,” Torres stated in a text message.

“He is hopeful that the CSUB basketball program will get back on course and is truly remorseful for the stress his conduct placed upon the university and the community as a whole.”