A group of lifeguards who fear they were filmed naked and “engaging in bodily functions” inside a Huntington Beach locker room by former parks chief described the horrifying experience while announcing a lawsuit against the state on Thursday.
Kevin Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach, is accused of using hidden cameras to capture audio and video of workers undressing inside an employee locker room at at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
Kevin Pearsall is accused of using hidden cameras to capture workers undressing inside an employee locker room. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
On Thursday, two of the alleged victims appeared at a press conference with high-powered attorney Gloria Allred to announce the lawsuit against the California Department of Parks and Recreation, which employed Pearsall as a superintendent in Huntington Beach.
Mathew Dawson, who began working as a lifeguard in 2014, said the revelation of the secret recordings felt “like getting punched in the stomach.”
Mathew Dawson (far right) said the revelation of the secret recordings felt “like getting punched in the stomach.” David Buchan for Ca Post
he suit alleges sexual harassment, discrimination, and failure to prevent harassment and discrimination, all in violation of the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. David Buchan
Matthew Dawson speaking at the press conference. David Buchan
“When I was naked and changing into my uniform I remember Kevin directing me to the back area. He was setting me up to undress on camera,” Dawson said, calling it “the ultimate betrayal of trust.”
As far back as 2019, Pearsall placed a concealed recording device that appeared to be a USB memory stick but contained a built-in camera, according to the lawsuit.
“Pearsall placed the concealed recording devices in the men’s employee’s locker room/changing room at Bolsa Chica because he sought to record males who were undressed for his own sexual gratification,” the papers say.
It went on to say: “The plaintiffs were without consent in states of undress and/or engaging in bodily functions on Pearsall’s Boca Chica recordings.
Dawson described the locker room as having a changing area, showers, and bathrooms and explained that several employees used the area to change into and out of their uniforms daily.
The videos of the victims may have been distributed to others according to the lawsuit. “Plaintiff’s allege that Pearsall transmitted photographs of nude and partially nude male employees to at least two other individuals,” the papers say.
The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, was filed on behalf of alleged victims Dawson, Richard Corey, Nichola Petkus and a fourth unidentified person.
The suit alleges sexual harassment, discrimination, and failure to prevent harassment and discrimination, all in violation of the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Pearsall has been charged with five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another person and three misdemeanor counts of unlawfully distributing private recordings.
He is accused of taking and sharing intimate images of men over an 11-month period and then sharing some of them with other men, prosecutors said last week.
The legendary Allred, who turns 85 Friday, encouraged others who think they may be victims to come forward. “We look forward to our day in court,” she said.