Key facts
- Tyler Muehl, 18, pleaded guilty to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- He repeatedly kicked a sea lion in La Jolla Cove on July 22, 2026.
- The attack was captured in a viral video.
- Muehl faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
- He was ordered to abstain from alcohol or marijuana pending sentencing.
An 18-year-old California man has pleaded guilty to a federal crime after a video of him kicking a sea lion went viral. Tyler Muehl, of San Diego’s La Jolla neighborhood, admitted in court on Thursday that he violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Muehl acknowledged that on the night of July 22, 2026, he repeatedly kicked a protected sea lion resting on a wall in La Jolla Cove. He approached the animal as if preparing to fight and referred to himself by the name of former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. Muehl confessed to kicking the sea lion four times, including twice in the face, causing it to recoil and attempt to flee. He pursued the animal and kicked it a third and fourth time before it escaped over the sea wall.
The widely circulated video of the attack led to Muehl being charged with a misdemeanor. He faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for October 20 before US magistrate judge Jill L Burkhardt. Muehl may remain out of custody pending sentencing and was ordered to abstain from alcohol or marijuana.
US Attorney Adam Gordon stated, "Federal crime. Federal consequences." Eric Morgan of NOAA Fisheries' office of law enforcement, which investigated the case, emphasized that intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is illegal and dangerous for the animal's well-being. NOAA guidelines recommend maintaining a distance of at least 150 feet from sea lions and other marine mammals.