Twelve male California lifeguards have filed a lawsuit against former state parks superintendent Kevin Pearsall for allegedly secretly filming them changing in locker rooms.
The civil filing in Orange County Superior Court claims that Pearsall covertly recorded the alleged victims in changing facilities at Bolsa Chica State Beach. The lawsuit argues that a pattern of abuse occurred under Pearsall and accuses the California Department of Parks and Recreation of knowing about his misconduct but failing to take action.
Pearsall, 59, served as the California State Parks Superintendent from 2023 until last July, when he retired in disgrace after being placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. He surrendered himself on June 23 on a $500,0000 arrest warrant.
In June, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced that Pearsall had been charged with five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another, and three misdemeanor counts of unlawful dissemination of private recording. Multiple victims have since filed separate civil lawsuits against Pearsall and the parks department alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
Bolsa Chica State Beach is a state-managed coastal park located in Orange County, California, where state park lifeguards provide public safety and rescue operations. The California Department of Parks and Recreation oversees hundreds of park units across the state, managing natural resources and public recreational spaces.
The legal actions follow an investigation that began last summer when a California State Park officer discovered a USB drive in the men's locker room at the Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. After discovering alleged explicit content, the officer reported the drive to the California Highway Patrol.
Investigators with the California Highway Patrol allegedly found audio and video nude content recorded over an 11-month period. Prosecutors said the alleged victims had no idea they were being recorded.
The locker room facility is not open to the public and is used by full-time personnel, seasonal lifeguards, office staff, maintenance workers, and park aides. According to the District Attorney's Office, Pearsall allegedly distributed the content to two other men and made sexually charged comments about his employees' genitals.
"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," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. "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."
Legal Claims and Arraignment Delays
Pearsall appeared in court earlier this summer, but his formal arraignment has been postponed to September 21. He is not currently in custody as he awaits his court hearings.
Attorney Mark Peacock, who represents seven of the lifeguards, told the Los Angeles Times earlier this month that his clients were disappointed that Pearsall has not been arraigned sooner. Peacock added that four of the lifeguards he represents are still minors.
"They're young men who were just starting their lives out. To put on a suit and tie and expect quick and easy justice, when that guy walks out, it just rebirths emotions of 'I'm p***ed and I can't believe he did that,'" Peacock said. He added that the recordings may go back to 2019 and stated he believes more lifeguards will come forward.
Attorney Bijan Darvish, who represents 12 of the lifeguards in the new civil suit, noted the severity of the alleged privacy violations in the workplace.
"This case is far bigger than one employee and one incident," Darvish said. "These were employees who went to work, performed their jobs and entered a workplace locker room believing they had the most basic right to privacy. Instead, they allege they were secretly recorded while naked, and that some of those images were shared."
Victims Speak Out After Court Encounter
Attorney Gloria Allred has also filed a civil complaint on behalf of three employees, two of whom spoke out publicly about the case after coming face to face with Pearsall at a court hearing earlier this month.
"I saw Kevin today in the hallway," plaintiff Matthew Dawson told reporters outside the courthouse, according to local ABC affiliate KABC. "When he walked past me my stomach dropped. I saw him smiling."
Plaintiff Richard Corey expressed similar anguish over seeing his former supervisor. "It's already a betrayal, it already hurts, but who does that?" Corey said. "The whole thing is messed up and hurts." Corey noted that Pearsall was a sworn peace officer and committed the "highest level of betrayal."
State Parks Department Response
The California Department of Parks and Recreation previously said it took the charges against Pearsall "very seriously" and was cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities.
"State Parks values having a safe workplace where all staff feel welcome and respected," the department said in a statement. "The department holds all employees to the highest ethical and professional standards, and these charges are not reflective of the values, hard work, dedication and professionalism of the approximately 5,000 employees who support California's 280 state parks each day."
Representatives for Pearsall and the Parks and Recreation Department have been contacted for comment.
