California school hired a coach, but police say he moonlighted as a pimp - ESPN

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The men's basketball program at California State University, Bakersfield won't turn many heads with its last-place ranking in the Big West Conference. But when it comes to scandal, the school could be a top contender.

Cal State Bakersfield's athletic department has been in upheaval since Aug. 29, when then-men's basketball coach Rod Barnes opened an anonymous email from a tipster who alleged that Barnes' temporary assistant coach, Kevin Mays, was also working as a pimp across four states. Other lawsuits, internal investigations, dismissals and finger-pointing have only served to deepen the department's sense of crisis.

In the email, the tipster identified a woman whom Mays allegedly had trafficked for several months.

«FIX IT OR THE WHOLE STAFF WILL FALL,» the tipster wrote in all caps, adding that the email was a «first warning and a final warning.»

Barnes forwarded the anonymous email to the university's human resources office, which sent it to university police, triggering an investigation that led to criminal charges against Mays.

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.

Sally Selby, the public affairs and communications manager for the Bakersfield Police Department, told ESPN that