Kevin Mays went from the basketball court to a prison cell.
The former Bakersfield-area basketball coach has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to serious federal and state crimes tied to a prostitution operation and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Not exactly the career progression anyone expected.
Mays was once involved in basketball at California State University, Bakersfield. He served as an assistant coach and had previously played for the program. His name was connected to the sport.
Now, it is connected to a criminal case.
According to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, Mays admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material while also operating a prostitution business that stretched across three states.
What began as a basketball career ended with prosecutors describing conduct that had nothing to do with jump shots, game plans or coaching.
Mays was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The punishment marks a dramatic fall for someone who once occupied a position around college athletes.
Earlier this month, Mays pleaded no contest to felony charges of possession of child or youth pornography, pimping and possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm.
The plea deal dramatically reduced his legal exposure. Mays had originally been charged with nearly a dozen felony and misdemeanor counts before prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges, according to The Bakersfield Californian.
Investigators said Mays directed a 22-year-old prostitute who worked out of hotel rooms in California, Oregon and Las Vegas.
The Kern County District Attorney’s office said the coach lined up her clients, booked her hotel rooms, and used his CSUB account to rent a luxury car for her.
The case also serves as another reminder that a public reputation does not tell the entire story of a person.
It was an anonymous email to the university in August 2025, accusing the coach of pimping, that led to an investigation, which resulted in Mays being fired and arrested, just months into being hired.
Just two months into his tenure, former CSUB head coach Rod Barnes received an email titled “IMPORTANT MESSAGE 911 911,” ESPN reported earlier this year.
In the crux of the email, Mays was accused of “trafficking a girl since May.”
“FIX IT OR THE WHOLE STAFF WILL FALL,” the email read.
Barnes sent the email to CSUB’s human resources office. It was eventually forwarded to university police, leading to the investigation.
The prostitution operation reportedly involved multiple states, adding another layer to an already disturbing case.
Police found the victim through a sex advertisement posted in Sacramento and ran a sting operation in September disguised as a “date.” The woman said Mays was her “boyfriend,” and he often covered the costs of hotels, rental cars and flights for her work.
Mays was arrested the next day after police served search warrants on his car and his place, KBAK reported.
Police searched his car and found multiple firearms and a large stash of drugs. They looked through his phone, finding around 600 photos of children as young as 4.
The ordeal resulted in Mays’ charge, which included felonies such as pimping and charges for possession of automatic firearms, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell and child pornography.
Mays’ defense attorney, David Torres, told the Bakersfield Californian his client was “truly remorseful.”
Mays once had a connection to college basketball.
Now, his name is attached to a criminal case involving exploitation and child sexual abuse material.
