San Diego man pleads guilty to kicking protected sea lion in an attack caught on video
Tyler Muehl admitted kicking the animal four times in a viral video, and he faces up to 1 year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
- On Thursday, 18-year-old Tyler Muehl pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act after admitting to harassing a sea lion at La Jolla Cove.
- The incident occurred on July 22, 2026, at Ellen Browning Scripps Park when Muehl was recorded approaching the animal; footage subsequently went viral on Snapchat and Instagram, triggering a federal investigation.
- Prosecutors stated Muehl approached the sea lion with hands at high guard before kicking it four times, making contact and chasing the animal until it escaped over a sea wall.
- Muehl faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for the misdemeanor violation, with sentencing scheduled for Oct. 20, 2026, in San Diego federal court.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case and emphasizes that harassing marine mammals is illegal; witnesses may report violations by calling 853-1964.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Sea lion-kicking young man discovers the Marine Mammal Protection Act
MMA loses to the MMPA. The gentleman in question was most assuredly NOT Max Holloway. Tyler Muehl approached a resting California sea lion at La Jolla Cove, assumed a fighting stance, invoked the UFC star's name, and started kicking. The sea lion tried to flee. — Read the rest The post Sea lion-kicking young man discovers the Marine Mammal Protection Act appeared first on Boing Boing.
California teen kicks a sea lion to pretend he's a UFC fighter, unaware there would be consequences: 'It's disgusting'
In late July, a video posted across various platforms showed a disturbing confrontation between an 18-year-old man and a sea lion at La Jolla Cove in Southern California. The area, next to Ellen Browning Scripps Park, is known for its rocky shores where marine mammals regularly haul themselves out of the water to rest. Tyler Muehl, 18, apparently decided that one of those resting sea lions needed a fight. Rather than keeping his distance, Muehl …
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