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A former college basketball coach was on the sidelines by day and allegedly pimping by night.
Kevin Mays was an assistant coach at Cal State Bakersfield when university police began investigating in August after the team’s then-head coach, Rod Barnes, received a tip via email.
The email, which was a “first warning and a final warning,” identified a woman Mays allegedly trafficked for months.
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners forward Kevin Mays during the game between Northern Arizona and Cal State Bakersfield at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, California. (David Dennis/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“FIX IT OR ALL STAFF FALL,” the tipster wrote in the email. Its subject line was “IMPORTANT MESSAGE 911 911”.
Barnes then reported it to human resources, who then referred it to university police.
The informant said Mays operated in Las Vegas, Oregon, Washington and California. ESPN reported that the informant knew both the alleged victim and Barnes through traveling for sex work.
The alleged victim posted an ad in Sacramento, saying she was willing to be anything from “arm candy” for a party to a “no strings attached girlfriend.” She charged $300 for a half hour and $500 for a full 60 minutes. Police conducted a sting operation in September, setting up a “meet” with the alleged victim at a hotel room rented by Mays.
Kevin Mays of the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners goes up for a dunk in the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first round of the 2016 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena on March 18, 2016, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
In an interview with police after the operation, she referred to Mays as her “boyfriend” who “regularly” paid for her travel accommodation.
None of Mays’ alleged victims are students or staff members at Cal State Bakersfield, ESPN noted. However, police reports cited by the outlet indicate that Mays purchased a rental car that was used for alleged trafficking through a university account.
Mays now faces 11 charges, including pandering, possession of automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell and child pornography. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 13 after being delayed for nearly five months and he has pleaded not guilty.
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners forward Kevin Mays during the game between Northern Arizona and Cal State Bakersfield at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, California. (David Dennis/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Mays played for the school from 2014 to 2016, participating in the 2016 March Madness tournament.
