Workers expect privacy when they step into a locker room.
Prosecutors say dozens of state employees had that privacy violated by one of the very people responsible for overseeing their workplace.
WHAT HAPPENED
Orange County prosecutors have charged 59-year-old Kevin Pearsall, a former California State Parks superintendent, with secretly recording employees inside a locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
Investigators say the recordings took place between August 2024 and July 2025 inside the men's employee locker room at the lifeguard headquarters.
According to prosecutors, Pearsall allegedly used a hidden camera to record 23 different men while they were changing clothes. Authorities say the recordings captured intimate images of the victims.
The case came to light after a California State Parks officer found a USB device in the locker room. Investigators later traced the device back to Pearsall, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Authorities also allege Pearsall shared nude images of three victims with two other men and made sexual comments about some employees.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
Alleged recording period: August 2024 to July 2025
- Victims allegedly recorded: 23 men
- Defendant's age: 59
- Felony charges: 5
- Maximum possible sentence: 18 years, 8 months
THE BIGGER QUESTION
The story is not just about hidden cameras.
It is about trust in the workplace. Employees expect supervisors to protect them, not monitor them in private spaces.
The case also raises questions about how long the recordings allegedly continued before being discovered and whether workplace safeguards were strong enough to prevent it.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Pearsall faces five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another person, and three misdemeanor counts related to sharing private recordings.
His arraignment is scheduled for August 6.
If convicted on all charges, prosecutors say he could face up to 18 years and 8 months in jail.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
Why prosecutors believe the recordings began in August 2024.
- Whether additional victims may exist beyond the 23 identified.
- What defense Pearsall plans to present in court.
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 24, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
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