An 18-year-old from La Jolla recently pleaded guilty in federal court to charges stemming from an incident on the San Diego coast. Tyler Muehl admitted to repeatedly kicking a sea lion while the animal was resting on a sea wall, an act captured in a widely shared social media video.
The case was brought under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as sea lions are federally protected animals. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Muehl struck the animal four times, including blows to its face, and pursued the creature as it attempted to flee the area. Officials emphasized that such actions are illegal and present a danger to marine life.
Following the guilty plea, the legal process moves toward sentencing, which is currently set for October 20. The charge of knowingly and unlawfully harassing a marine mammal carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and fines up to $100,000.