NewsWFLA News TampaAugust 14, 2026Hillsborough
18-year-old pleads guilty to harassing sea lion in San Diego
An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to harassing a sea lion after a video of him kicking the animal on a San Diego sea wall went viral. The defendant admitted to striking the animal four times, violating the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Read the full story at WFLA News TampaWhy It Matters
The defendant faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for violating federal protections for marine mammals.
Key Facts
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Who's Mentioned
locationSan Diego“Site of the incident”personEric Morgan“NOAA-Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement representative”organizationNOAA-Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement“Enforces Marine Mammal Protection Act”personTyler Muehl“18-year-old who pleaded guilty to harassing a sea lion”organizationU.S. Department of Justice“Announced the guilty plea”