18-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to Harassing Sea Lion at San Diego Beach
Tyler Muehl admitted to kicking a sea lion at La Jolla Cove and pleaded guilty to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, facing up to a year in prison and a fine.
An 18-year-old San Diego resident pleaded guilty in federal court to harassing a sea lion at La Jolla Cove, violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Video footage captured the teenager approaching the animal, referring to himself as "Max Holloway" and kicking the sea lion multiple times before it fled and stumbled on the seawall.
Under the plea agreement, Muehl acknowledged that the recording accurately depicted the incident. The law carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. > "Federal crime. Federal consequences," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
Federal officials noted that sea lions are protected nationwide and that enforcement resources in California are limited, with only four NOAA officers covering the state and reliance on local rangers and volunteers. > "Intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is not only illegal—it is dangerous for the well-being of the animal," said NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Eric Morgan.