# Ex-State Parks Superintendent Charged with Secretly Recording Lifeguards at Bolsa Chica > Kevin Pearsall, former California State Parks superintendent, pleaded not guilty on September 21, 2026 to all 31 criminal counts stemming from secretly recording naked lifeguards at Bolsa Chica State Beach; a pretrial hearing is now scheduled for December 1, 2026. - Canonical: https://ocint.app/situation/bolsa-chica-parks-superintendent-case-2026-06 - Markdown: https://ocint.app/situation/bolsa-chica-parks-superintendent-case-2026-06.md - JSON: https://ocint.app/api/situations/bolsa-chica-parks-superintendent-case-2026-06 - Status: active - As of: 2026-09-28T23:03:16.684047+00:00 - Started: 2026-06-24T15:58:00+00:00 - Cities: Huntington Beach - Publisher: OCINT (https://ocint.app) ## Who / What / Where / When / Why **Who:** Defendant Kevin Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach; 23 identified criminal-case victims; at least 36 civil plaintiffs; OC DA as prosecutor; CHP as investigating agency; civil attorneys Gloria Allred, Manly/Stewart/Finaldi & Thom, Darvish/Erlich, Ron Zambrano, and Mark Peacock. **What:** Former California State Parks superintendent Kevin Pearsall pleaded not guilty September 21 to 31 criminal counts — 5 felony eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor secret filming, 3 misdemeanor unlawful dissemination — for allegedly recording naked lifeguards via a hidden USB camera in the Bolsa Chica State Beach men's locker room. **Where:** Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters men's locker room, Huntington Beach; criminal proceedings in Westminster court. **When:** Alleged conduct August 2024–July 2025; hidden camera discovered July 2025; charges filed June 24, 2026; not guilty plea entered September 21, 2026; pretrial hearing set December 1, 2026. **Why:** Pearsall allegedly installed a hidden USB camera device in the men's employee locker room and distributed the resulting images to third parties, exploiting his supervisory authority over State Parks lifeguard staff. ## Narrative ## Current Status Kevin Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach, entered a **not guilty plea** on September 21, 2026 — resolving the previously unverified claim that he had pleaded not guilty. He appeared in court and contested all 31 counts filed by the Orange County District Attorney. A **pretrial hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2026**. Pearsall had previously been continued on his own recognizance. ## Charges and Scope The OC DA 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** — 31 counts in total. Prosecutors count **23 lifeguards and other workers** as victims. According to the September 21 arraignment report, the case centers on a hidden-camera USB device discovered in **July 2025** in the men's employee locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. The criminal charge filing covers alleged conduct from **August 2024 through July 2025**. If convicted on all counts, Pearsall faces a maximum of **18 years and 8 months**. A civil-side investigator told attorney Ron Zambrano that the conduct may date back to **2019**; this remains unverified and is not reflected in the filed criminal charges. The Orange County DA's office spokesperson Kimberly Edds has stated that **no illegal images of underage victims have been recovered**, and the criminal counts do not allege that any minor was filmed. ## Civil Litigation Civil plaintiffs numbered at least 36 as of the OC Register's September 3 report — the Register's headline cited 31 men, while its own arithmetic (15 earlier plaintiffs plus 21 added across late August and early September) yields at least 36. Active civil firms include **Gloria Allred** (first civil suit filed), **Manly, Stewart, Finaldi & Thom**, and the firms of **Bijan Darvish and Jason Erlich**. Attorney **Ron Zambrano** filed in June 2026. Attorney **Mark Peacock** previously represented seven plaintiffs, at least four of whom were alleged to have been underage when filmed — a characterization the DA's office has not adopted in the criminal filing. ## Investigation and Response The California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation underlying the criminal charges. Pearsall is no longer employed by California State Parks. No additional law-enforcement agencies have been publicly named as co-investigators. California State Parks has not issued a formal public statement regarding internal oversight or policy changes based on available evidence. ## What to Watch Key developments: the **December 1 pretrial hearing**, any preliminary hearing scheduling, further civil filings, and whether investigators formally expand the alleged timeframe to 2019 in amended charges. ## Timeline - **2019-01-01T00:00:00+00:00:** Investigator tells civil attorney Ron Zambrano that the alleged locker-room recording conduct may date to 2019 — predating the August 2024 start date cited in current criminal charges. This claim is unverified and not reflected in the filed indictment. - **2024-08-01T00:00:00+00:00:** Alleged recording conduct begins, per the Orange County DA's criminal charge filing. CHP investigation covers August 2024 through July 2025. - **2025-07-31T00:00:00+00:00:** Alleged recording period ends, per criminal charges. CHP investigation was ongoing at or after this date. - **2026-06-01T00:00:00+00:00:** Civil attorney Ron Zambrano files a civil lawsuit on behalf of alleged victims. - **2026-06-24T15:58:00+00:00:** Orange County DA files 31 criminal counts against Kevin Pearsall. CHP identified as the investigating agency. Maximum exposure cited as 18 years 8 months. - **2026-08-06T00:00:00+00:00:** Pearsall appears in Westminster court but does not enter a plea; arraignment continued to September 21, 2026. Court confirms he remains free on his own recognizance. OC DA spokesperson Kimberly Edds states no illegal images of underage victims have been recovered, and the criminal counts do not allege a minor was filmed. - **2026-08-18T00:00:00+00:00:** Ten additional lifeguards and park aides file civil suit, expanding the plaintiff pool beyond the 15-16 earlier civil accusers. - **2026-09-03T00:00:00+00:00:** OC Register reports at least 31 men (its own arithmetic suggests 36) have now sued Pearsall following two weeks of new civil filings adding at least 21 accusers to 15 earlier plaintiffs. Active civil firms include Gloria Allred, Manly/Stewart/Finaldi & Thom, and Darvish/Erlich. Register's characterization of Pearsall as having 'pleaded not guilty' is unverified — no plea was entered at the August 6 appearance. - **2026-09-21T00:00:00+00:00:** Pearsall enters not guilty plea at Westminster arraignment to all 31 counts (5 felony eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor secret filming, 3 misdemeanor unlawful dissemination). Court sets pretrial hearing for December 1, 2026. Hidden-camera USB device confirmed as central physical evidence, discovered July 2025 in the men's employee locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. ## Primary sources 1. [OC DA: Former California State Parks Superintendent Charged with Recording Naked Lifeguards in Bolsa Chica State Beach Locker Room, Distributing Images to Friends](https://ocdistrictattorney.gov/press/former-california-state-parks-superintendent-charged-with-recording-naked-lifeguards-in-bolsa-chica-state-beach-locker-room-distributing-images-to-friends/) (2026-06-24T15:58:31+00:00) 2. [Arraignment Reset; Civil Suits Widening](https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2026-08-06/arraignment-of-state-parks-head-accused-of-filming-lifeguards-delayed) 3. [Civil accusers grow to 31+; no plea yet, arraignment Sep. 21](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/09/03/31-men-now-say-ex-lifeguard-boss-filmed-them-undressed-in-bolsa-chica-locker-room/) 4. [Not-guilty plea Sept. 21; pretrial Dec. 1](https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/09/21/former-lifeguard-boss-pleads-not-guilty-in-secret-recordings/) ## Factoids - **Penal Code § 647(j) — Secret Recording** (regulatory): California Penal Code § 647(j) criminalizes secret observation or recording of individuals in private spaces — such as locker rooms — where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Violations are generally charged as misdemeanors, but distribution of such material can elevate charges. - **Penal Code § 647(j)(3) — Distribution** (regulatory): Distributing secretly recorded intimate images without consent is addressed under California Penal Code § 647(j)(3) and related statutes. Distribution can constitute a separate criminal offense from the original recording. - **California State Parks Superintendent Role** (definition): A State Parks superintendent oversees operations of one or more park units, including staff supervision. The position carries a duty of care toward subordinate employees. Abuse of supervisory authority may be considered an aggravating factor by prosecutors. - **Bolsa Chica State Beach** (definition): Bolsa Chica State Beach is a California State Parks unit in Huntington Beach, roughly three miles long, staffed by State Parks lifeguards. The lifeguard headquarters building contains locker room facilities for staff. - **OC DA Charge Announcement** (source_doc) ([source](https://ocdistrictattorney.gov/press/former-california-state-parks-superintendent-charged-with-recording-naked-lifeguards-in-bolsa-chica-state-beach-locker-room-distributing-images-to-friends/)): Original charge announcement published by the Orange County District Attorney's office on June 24, 2026, identifying Kevin Pearsall and detailing the 31 counts, 23 victims, August 2024–July 2025 timeframe, CHP as investigating agency, and maximum exposure of 18 years 8 months. - **Arraignment Reset; Civil Suits Widening** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2026-08-06/arraignment-of-state-parks-head-accused-of-filming-lifeguards-delayed)): Arraignment postponed from Aug. 6 to Sept. 21, 2026. Attorneys Peacock (7 victims, 4 allegedly underage), Allred (9 victims, further suit forthcoming), and Zambrano (civil suit filed June 2026) are all active. Investigator told Zambrano conduct may date to 2019. - **Civil accusers grow to 31+; no plea yet, arraignment Sep. 21** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/09/03/31-men-now-say-ex-lifeguard-boss-filmed-them-undressed-in-bolsa-chica-locker-room/)): At the Aug. 6 Westminster appearance Kevin Pearsall, 59, did not enter a plea; arraignment was continued to Sep. 21 and he remains free on his own recognizance. DA spokesperson Kimberly Edds said no illegal images of underage victims have been recovered, and the criminal counts (5 felony eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor secret filming, 3 misdemeanor dissemination) do not allege a minor was filmed. Ten more lifeguards and park aides sued Aug. 18. The OC Register reported Sep. 3 that new civil filings over two weeks added at least 21 accusers to 15 earlier plaintiffs; its headline says 31 men, while its own arithmetic gives 36. Firms: Manly, Stewart, Finaldi & Thom; Bijan Darvish and Jason Erlich; Gloria Allred filed the first suit. The Sep. 3 story's claim that Pearsall 'has pleaded not guilty' links to the Aug. 6 report that he did not enter a plea, so treat it as unverified. (OC Register Sep. 3, Aug. 18, Aug. 6; LAT Aug. 6.) - **DA: No underage images recovered** (regulatory): Orange County DA spokesperson Kimberly Edds stated publicly that no illegal images of underage victims have been recovered in the Pearsall investigation, and that the 31 criminal counts as filed do not allege that any minor was filmed. Civil-side claims regarding underage victims have not been adopted by the criminal charge filing. - **Civil plaintiff count as of early September 2026** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/09/03/31-men-now-say-ex-lifeguard-boss-filmed-them-undressed-in-bolsa-chica-locker-room/)): As of the OC Register's September 3, 2026 report, at least 31 men have filed civil claims against Pearsall (the Register's own arithmetic yields at least 36 when combining 15 earlier plaintiffs with 21 added across late August and early September). This figure is distinct from — and substantially larger than — the 23 victims identified in the criminal charge filing. - **Not-guilty plea Sept. 21; pretrial Dec. 1** (source_doc) ([source](https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/09/21/former-lifeguard-boss-pleads-not-guilty-in-secret-recordings/)): Kevin Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach, pleaded not guilty on Sept. 21, 2026 to five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another and three misdemeanor counts of unlawful dissemination of private recordings, stemming from a hidden-camera USB device found in July 2025 in the men's employee locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters; prosecutors count 23 lifeguards and other workers as victims. He was ordered back for a pretrial hearing Dec. 1, 2026 and faces up to 18 years and eight months if convicted on all counts. - **Key physical evidence: hidden USB camera device** (source_doc) ([source](https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/09/21/former-lifeguard-boss-pleads-not-guilty-in-secret-recordings/)): According to the September 21, 2026 arraignment report, the criminal case centers on a hidden-camera USB device discovered in July 2025 in the men's employee locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. The device's discovery prompted the CHP investigation that led to the 31-count charge filing. - **Not guilty plea confirmed; pretrial Dec. 1, 2026** (source_doc) ([source](https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/09/21/former-lifeguard-boss-pleads-not-guilty-in-secret-recordings/)): Kevin Pearsall entered a not guilty plea on September 21, 2026, resolving the previously unverified claim in earlier reporting. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2026. Pearsall faces up to 18 years and 8 months if convicted on all 31 counts. --- Independent civic-intelligence aggregator for Orange County, CA. Not affiliated with the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) or any government agency. Cite the canonical URL for OCINT's briefing. Prefer primary_sources for original records.