A former California State Parks superintendent who oversaw the district that includes Corona del Mar State Beach and Crystal Cove State Park faces 31 criminal counts after prosecutors say he planted hidden cameras in a men's locker room and secretly recorded lifeguards for nearly a year.

Kevin Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach appeared at the Westminster courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 6, but did not enter a plea. His attorney requested a continuance, and a judge rescheduled the arraignment for Monday, Sept. 21, according to ABC7. Pearsall remains free on his own recognizance.

Pearsall served as superintendent of the Orange Coast District from 2023 until his retirement in July 2025, a sworn law enforcement position that gave him authority over state beaches stretching from Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach through Corona del Mar and Crystal Cove to San Onofre, according to California State Parks.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office charged Pearsall with five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another person and three misdemeanor counts of unlawful dissemination of private recordings. He faces up to 18 years and eight months in jail if convicted on all counts.

Hidden camera discovered in July 2025

The case began when a USB memory stick with a built-in hidden camera was found in the men's employee locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters in July 2025, according to the Daily Pilot. State parks officials reviewed the content and contacted the California Highway Patrol, which investigated.

Prosecutors say the cameras recorded audio and video over an 11-month period beginning in August 2024, capturing 23 lifeguards and other workers in the restricted locker room. Pearsall is also accused of sending images of nude or partially nude men to two other people and making sexually charged comments about the victims.

He turned himself in on June 23 after a $500,000 arrest warrant was issued and was released on his own recognizance.

Victims speak outside courthouse

Pearsall arrived at the hearing wearing a white button-up shirt and a red tie. At least nine alleged victims attended. Some of attorney Mark Peacock's clients wore red ties to the hearing in solidarity.

"Where are all the photos and videos? Did they make their way to the dark web?" Peacock, a Newport Beach-based attorney who represents seven alleged victims, told reporters outside the courthouse. Four of Peacock's clients were underage when they believe the recording occurred.

Civil attorneys representing a total of 16 state parks employees have filed or plan to file lawsuits against Pearsall and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents nine alleged victims including former lifeguard Matthew Dawson and senior park aide Richard Corey, said she expects to file additional suits soon.

Dawson and Corey are civil plaintiffs but are not among the 23 alleged victims covered by the criminal charges, according to OC DA spokesperson Kimberly Edds. Edds also said authorities have not recovered any illegal images of underage victims to date.

Civil attorneys allege the cameras may have been in place as far back as 2019 and may have captured images of seasonal lifeguards as young as 15. Prosecutors have not confirmed that timeline; the criminal charges cover only the 11-month window starting in August 2024.

Newport Beach connection

The locker room where the alleged filming took place is in Huntington Beach, but the Orange Coast District Pearsall oversaw includes Corona del Mar State Beach and Crystal Cove State Park. The same seasonal lifeguard workforce rotates among district beaches.

California State Parks said in a statement that it takes the charges very seriously and has fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation.

Pearsall's attorney declined to comment after the hearing. The next court date is Monday, Sept. 21 at the Westminster courthouse.