La Jolla man pleads guilty to kicking protected sea lion

Tyler Muehl, an 18-year-old from La Jolla, pleaded guilty on August 13, 2026, to a federal charge of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act for repeatedly kicking and chasing a protected sea lion at San Diego's La Jolla Cove. The incident, which occurred on July 22, was captured on video and widely shared online, sparking public outrage and a federal investigation.

According to federal prosecutors, the video shows Muehl taking a confrontational stance and kicking at the sea lion four times as it attempted to move away from a sea wall near Ellen Browning Scripps Park. He admitted in his plea agreement that he landed at least two kicks on the animal and acknowledged that the video was an accurate record of the event. Court documents indicate he compared himself to a professional UFC fighter during the encounter. The footage also includes the sound of someone laughing in the background.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which investigated the case, states that people must stay at least 50 feet away from sea lions and other protected marine mammals. Intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is illegal and dangerous to the animal's well-being, said Eric...