March 5, 2026, 12:48 p.m. ET
Cal State Bakersfield made headlines for the wrong reasons in a shocking story ahead of the upcoming NCAA men’s basketball March Madness tournament.
Kevin Mays, a former Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners basketball player who was later hired as a player-development coordinator, was hired as a temporary assistant coach under former Roadrunners head coach Rod Barnes in June 2025.
But according to reporting, Barnes received a tip in August 2025 that Mays was working as a pimp across four states: Las Vegas, Oregon, Washington, and California. Mays was soon arrested in September 2025 near his apartment in southwest Bakersfield.
Barnes abruptly ended his tenure with the program later that month. Here is more about this deeply troubling story (via ESPN):
“Mays, who is being held without bail, faces a hefty rap sheet of 11 criminal and misdemeanor charges, including felonies such as pimping. He also was charged with possession of automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell. Separate charges cited him for possession of more than 600 images of youth or child pornography and distribution of obscene matter involving someone under 18 years old.
Mays has pleaded not guilty on all charges. His attorney, David Torres, declined comment to ESPN.”
Mays reportedly denied any involvement in prostitution upon his arrest but the police search of his car revealed multiple firearms and “close to 600 images” of child pornography. Detectives found multiple assault rifles and narcotics in his apartment, per KGET.
These are very serious and disturbing charges that surround Mays, whose background was reportedly checked and cleared before he was hired, according to university president Vernon Harper.
The former basketball player currently awaits trial in jail and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 13.