Teen caught on video kicking sea lion pleads guilty, faces prison time: "Federal crime. Federal consequences."

Key Points:

• Tyler Muehl, an 18-year-old man, pleaded guilty to harassing a sea lion at La Jolla Cove, San Diego, after a viral video showed him kicking the animal multiple times, violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
• Muehl admitted to approaching the sea lion aggressively, kicking it six times in total, and chasing it as it tried to flee, causing the animal to stumble before escaping to the beach.
• The crime carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, with prosecutors emphasizing the seriousness of federal consequences for harming protected marine mammals.
• NOAA highlighted limited enforcement resources in California, relying on local partnerships and volunteers who cannot always be present or enforce laws effectively at the cove.
• NOAA Fisheries officials stressed that intentionally harming marine mammals is illegal and endangers the animals' well-being, underscoring the importance of protecting these federally protected species.