Former CA State Parks superintendent accused of secretly recording lifeguards in men's locker room

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (KABC) -- A former California State Parks superintendent in Orange County has been released on bond after being accused of secretly recording lifeguards in a men's locker room, authorities said.

Prosecutors allege 59-year-old Kevin Pearsall placed a hidden camera in the men's locker room at the Bolsa Chica headquarters during the summer of 2024. At least 23 victims -- all male adults -- have been identified in the case.

"They were being preyed on in the most intimate and disgustingly violative way," said Kimberly Edds, the director of public affairs for the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Authorities said the investigation began in July of last year, when a sworn California State Parks officer discovered a USB device in the locker room.

"He didn't realize that it was actually a hidden camera," Edds said.

Prosecutors allege the hidden camera had been recording since August 2024, capturing footage of lifeguards while they were nude. On some occasions, Pearsall is accused of sharing those images with two other men.

"And making really sexual, inappropriate comments about these individuals as they're just doing their job," Edds said.

Pearsall is charged with five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another, and three misdemeanor counts of unlawful dissemination of private recordings. He faces a maximum sentence of 18 years and eight months in the Orange County Jail if convicted on all counts.

Attorney Ron Zambrano, who represents one of the alleged victims, described the case in stark terms.

"It's disgusting," Zambrano said.

Zambrano says his client was working as a State Parks Peace Officer-Lifeguard assigned to Bolsa Chica State Beach.

"He had a particular fascination with certain employees. My client ended up being one of them," Zambrano said. "Apparently, it was very common for Pearsall to encourage people that he liked, I guess, to get the more senior lockers near the back which ended up being where the cameras were."

On behalf of his client, Zambrano said he is filing a civil complaint against the state of California, alleging harassment and failure to prevent harassment.

"The state of California, as the law has been written, is responsible for Pearsall's unlawful conduct because he's been put in a position of power," he said.

Pearsall had worked for the department since 1994, but retired shortly after the California Highway Patrol served search warrants related to the investigation.

From 2023 through July of 2025, Pearsall served as a California State Parks Superintendent, which is a sworn law enforcement position overseeing the management and operations of state parks in the Orange Coast District, including Orange County, according to the DA's office.

"California State Parks takes these charges very seriously and has fully cooperated with law enforcement through every step of the investigation," read a statement from the agency. "Upon being alerted to these serious criminal allegations, State Parks immediately contacted the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and requested an investigation. As this is an active criminal case, State Parks will not comment further at this time."

Authorities said Pearsall turned himself in on Tuesday and is scheduled to appear in court in August. Eyewitness News has made multiple attempts to reach Pearsall for comment, but so far, we have not heard back.

"Instead of protecting his employees, Pearsall used his position to spy on the men who worked for him while they were in the place where they should have been the safest and then share those intimate images of his victims," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. "These victims had their privacy violated in such a disgusting way, and we will do everything we can to ensure they receive the justice they deserve."

If convicted, Pearsall could face nearly 19 years in jail.