Former Cal State Bakersfield assistant basketball coach Kevin Mays has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading no contest to multiple felony charges tied to child sexual abuse material and a prostitution operation.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that Mays will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Earlier this month, Mays pleaded no contest to felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, pimping and possessing a controlled substance while armed. Prosecutors dismissed several additional charges as part of the plea agreement.
Authorities said Mays managed a 22-year-old woman who worked as a prostitute in California, Oregon and Nevada. Investigators alleged he arranged clients, booked hotel rooms and even used his Cal State Bakersfield account to rent a luxury vehicle for her.
The investigation began after the university received an anonymous email in August 2025 accusing Mays of operating a prostitution ring.
“FIX IT OR THE WHOLE STAFF WILL FALL,” the email warned.
Former CSUB head coach Rod Barnes forwarded the message to the university’s human resources department, and it was eventually passed on to campus police, leading to the investigation.
Police later conducted an undercover operation after locating the woman through an online advertisement. Mays was arrested after search warrants were executed at his home and vehicle.
Investigators said they recovered multiple firearms, illegal drugs and hundreds of images of children from his phone, leading to numerous criminal charges.
Mays’ attorney, David Torres, said his client has accepted responsibility.
“Mr. Mays is relieved that all of this is behind him,” Torres said.
“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.”
California college basketball coach learns fate for pimping prostitute in 3 states https://t.co/w9xRsiy6JV pic.twitter.com/AVrHS98ene
— New York Post (@nypost) August 1, 2026
