Former California State University, Bakersfield assistant basketball coach Kevin Mays is facing a long list of criminal charges after an anonymous tip accused him of running a multi-state sex trafficking operation while working for the school.
The allegations surfaced on August 29 when former men’s basketball coach Rod Barnes received an anonymous email warning that Mays was allegedly trafficking a woman across several states.
“FIX IT OR THE WHOLE STAFF WILL FALL,” the tipster wrote in all caps, describing the email as both a “first warning and a final warning.”
Barnes immediately forwarded the message to the university’s human resources office, which then passed it to campus police. The complaint triggered an investigation that ultimately led to Mays’ arrest and a sweeping criminal case.
Mays is currently being held without bail and faces 11 criminal and misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors charged him with felonies, including pimping. Authorities also accused him of possessing automatic firearms, high-capacity magazines, methamphetamine, and marijuana with the intent to sell. Separate counts allege he possessed more than 600 images of youth or child pornography and distributed obscene material involving someone under 18. Mays has pleaded not guilty to every charge.
Bakersfield Police Department public affairs manager Sally Selby told ESPN that investigators continue to interview individuals connected to the case as the investigation develops. Officials are still working “to determine if there are other victims or applicable charges.”
The case quickly sent shockwaves through the university’s athletic department.
In September, the school announced that Barnes and athletic director Kyle Conder had both left their roles, though the university did not publicly explain the departures. Barnes had led the program for 14 years and previously guided the Roadrunners to both an NCAA tournament appearance and an NIT tournament.
Acting athletic director Sarah Tuohy and university president Vernon Harper later told the campus community that national searches would begin for both leadership positions.
Jennifer Self, the university’s senior director of strategic communications, called the charges against Mays “deeply concerning.” While officials said the case does not involve students, the university consulted with a local human trafficking expert and expanded awareness training on campus.
“We also viewed this moment as an opportunity to take a broader look at our athletic program,” Self said, noting the school created a commission to review the department and recommend “structural and administrative changes” aligned with the university’s “mission and values.”
Police records show the anonymous email claimed Mays trafficked a woman across Las Vegas, Oregon, Washington, and California. Investigators later identified the alleged victim as a 23-year-old woman.
Authorities say text messages suggested Mays helped arrange hotels, rental cars, and travel tied to the woman’s sex work. Investigators also determined a rental vehicle connected to the case had been obtained using the university’s Enterprise car rental account.
When police later searched Mays’ apartment and vehicle, they reported finding multiple firearms, including automatic rifles, along with drugs. A warrant search of his phone allegedly uncovered nearly 600 images of child pornography, including some depicting children as young as four.
At the same time, the athletic department faced additional controversy involving the school’s softball program. A player posted TikTok videos accusing coaches Leticia Olivarez and James Davenport of verbal, sexual, and physical harassment.
A June 2025 university investigation later concluded Davenport engaged in “unprofessional and immoral conduct” tied to alleged illegal weapons activity and dishonesty during questioning.
Meanwhile, former athletic director Kyle Conder filed a lawsuit claiming the university fired him after he reported “potential crimes and misconduct” inside the athletic department. School officials denied those allegations and said they plan to challenge aspects of his complaint in court.
Mays remains in jail awaiting trial. His preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for October 2025, is now set for March 13.
The widening scandal has drawn intense attention on campus, where some students say the situation reflects a larger pattern of negative headlines surrounding the city.
