Viral video showed Muehl kicking sea lion on sea wall
Tyler Muehl, an 18-year-old La Jolla man, pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal charge for kicking and chasing a protected sea lion at a San Diego beach.
Muehl entered the plea to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act in connection with the July 22 incident at La Jolla Cove beach, U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement.
The video, which went viral, shows Muehl throwing kicks at a sea lion that was sitting on a sea wall, according to prosecutors. At least one other person can be heard laughing in the background. The footage shows Muehl following the sea lion and throwing more kicks at it as the animal tries to scoot away, before the video ends.
Muehl admitted he kicked at the sea lion four times and landed at least two kicks on the animal, federal prosecutors said.