Tyler Muehl, an 18-year-old from La Jolla in San Diego, pleaded guilty in federal court to harassing a sea lion after video showed him repeatedly kicking the animal in the face and chasing it as it tried to escape. The case matters because it involves protections for marine wildlife under US federal law and drew attention after footage of the incident circulated online.

Muehl admitted a misdemeanour violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits harassment of protected marine mammals. The article identifies the animal as a sea lion and says the Justice Department announced the plea, but the supplied text does not state what sentence he may receive.