San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Kicking Protected Sea Lion in Viral Video Tyler Muehl, an 18 year old from La Jolla, California, pleaded guilty to kicking a protected sea lion at La Jolla Cove beach.
The incident was caught on video and has sparked outrage over the blatant disregard for federal law. The Marine Mammal Protection Act, signed into law in 1972, aims to safeguard marine mammals like sea lions.
However, it appears that some individuals still ignore environmental regulations. In this case, Muehl's actions were particularly egregious, with him throwing multiple kicks at the sea lion as it tried to escape.