BAKERSFIELD, California (July 30, 2026) — Former Cal State Bakersfield assistant men’s basketball coach Kevin Mays was sentenced Thursday to four years in state prison after accepting a plea agreement on three felony charges.
Understanding the Case of Kevin Mays
Mays, 33, pleaded no contest earlier this month to pimping, possession of child pornography and possession of drugs while armed. In addition to the prison sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
The former coach had been scheduled to stand trial after a judge ruled in March that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for the case to move forward. The plea agreement resolved the case without a full trial.
Judge Tiffany Organ-Bowles awarded Mays 660 days of sentencing credit. That total included 330 days for time already served in custody and an additional 330 days for good behavior.
Mays was also ordered to pay restitution to a confidential victim for losses associated with the case. The amount has not yet been determined.
Kern County prosecutor Christine Antonios said the victim’s preferences and concerns about public safety were central considerations during negotiations. According to Antonios, the victim did not want to endure an extended trial or prolonged court proceedings.
Mays’ attorney, David Torres, said his client accepted the agreement in an effort to move forward with his life. Torres also said Mays valued his time with the Cal State Bakersfield basketball program and regretted the damage his conduct caused to the university and team.
Cal State Bakersfield officials declined to comment.
The investigation began in August 2025 after an anonymous individual contacted then-Roadrunners head coach Rod Barnes. The message alleged that Mays had been trafficking a woman across several states over a period of months.
Mays was arrested the following September and initially faced 11 felony and misdemeanor counts. He pleaded not guilty to all charges before later agreeing to resolve the case through the negotiated plea.
During a March hearing, prosecutors and law enforcement officials presented evidence concerning Mays’ relationship with the woman and an alleged commercial sex operation that extended across California, Oregon and Nevada.
Investigators located the woman through an online advertisement and organized a sting operation involving a Sacramento hotel room, according to police reports and testimony presented in court.
During an interview with authorities, the woman initially described Mays as her boyfriend. She told investigators that he regularly paid for rental vehicles, hotel rooms and flights connected to her travel for sex work.
Evidence related to the child pornography charge was also presented during the preliminary proceedings. A forensic examiner testified that investigators found 28 videos on Mays’ phone depicting sexual conduct involving a minor.
Authorities obtained a warrant to search the device. The videos were reportedly timestamped between 2022 and 2024.
Police also testified that weapons and illegal drugs were discovered during searches of Mays’ vehicle and residence. That evidence formed the basis of the charge involving drug possession while armed.
Mays joined the Cal State Bakersfield program as an assistant coach before the allegations surfaced. The case drew significant attention because of his position within a Division I athletics department and the serious nature of the accusations.
Thursday’s sentencing formally concludes the criminal prosecution without a trial. With time-served and good-behavior credits applied, Mays will receive a substantial reduction from the four-year sentence announced by the court.
The lifetime sex-offender registration requirement and future restitution order will remain among the lasting legal consequences of the case.
