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Tyler Muehl, 18, of La Jolla in San Diego, admitted in federal court Friday to harassing a marine mammal by repeatedly kicking a sea lion that was resting on a seawall. The guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge under the Marine Mammal Protection Act came after a video documenting the July 22 incident circulated online, drawing widespread attention to the incident.
According to federal prosecutors, Muehl approached the sea lion with his fists raised as though preparing for a boxing match and invoked the name of UFC fighter Max Holloway. He then delivered four kicks to the animal, causing it to flinch and recoil before attempting to flee the scene.
The sea lion tried to escape after the second kick, but Muehl pursued the animal and struck it again. A fourth kick followed as the sea lion stumbled while trying to get away before finally managing to retreat from the seawall. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration investigated the case.
Under his plea agreement, Muehl acknowledged the viral video was an accurate depiction of the events. He now faces sentencing scheduled for October 20, with potential penalties including up to one year in prison and fines reaching $100,000. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized the seriousness of the offense in a statement.
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