San Diego, California – An 18-year-old California teen has pleaded guilty to a charge of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act resulting from kicking a sea lion in La Jolla Cove near Ellen Browning Scripps Park on July 22.
According to sources, Tyler Muehl admitted to repeatedly kicking at the sea lion and entered his guilty plea on August 13.
In a press release, NOAA-Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division Assistant Director Eric Morgan said:
“National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement takes all violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act very seriously. Intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is not only illegal—it is dangerous for the well-being of the animal.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office release describes the incident in detail:
The defendant admitted that he kicked at the sea lion four different times and that he made contact while kicking at the animal. Muehl twice forcefully kicked at the sea lion’s face, which caused the sea lion to rear flinch and immediately recoil. After the second kick, the sea lion turned and tried to flee, but Muehl chased after the animal and kicked at it a third time. As the sea lion tried to get away, it stumbled on the sea wall as it fled. Muehl kicked at the sea lion a fourth time and continued to chase the animal, ending his pursuit only when the sea lion escaped over the sea wall and made it to the beach. Muehl agreed as part of his plea agreement that a video capturing the event was a fair and accurate recording of what occurred.
Muehl is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt on October 20, 2026, at 9:30 am.
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16 Comments
Tyler Muehl must pay! Hang that evil ugly dirt bag and kick him to death!
Another classic example of Shit Parenting. This disgusting little maggot, AND his useless parents, AND the fu**wit videoing the attack, AND his useless parents ALL NEED TO BE CHARGED. What sort of feral Human Filth attacks an innocent defenseless animal, and laughs about it. Give me just 5 minutes with each and every one of these scumbags and we will see who’s laughing then.
cruelty to any living animal regardless of what species it is…..is not tolerated by me
You know if you kick the little piece of garbage for 3-4 hours straight he most likely will learn his lesson.
They are both guilty by association, co-conspirators, they acted together. This is what is happening to our society of youth, more and more of incidents of animal abuse, cruelty and violence are occurring daily! Law and Order need to be enforced and restored. If those boys (they are not men “cowards”), knew that they would get 10 years in prison for committing the act, do you think they would possibly think twice?
While Tyler Muehl admitted to what he did, it certainly doesn’t excuse his asinine actions against this sea lion. He knew exactly what he was doing and thought he was so cool. Effing loser!! It’s too bad that the person holding the camera while laughing and egging him on wasn’t put up on charges themselves. They should be – they’re just as guilty and will probably gravitate to the same moronic behavior as his “friend” eventually, if not already. I hope both Tyler and his effing friend get the s*^t beat out of them soon. I certainly wouldn’t be mad if the world was rid of either of these two morons, either.
qu’il crève cette merde ! c’est un futur psychopathe et maltraitant d’animaux
Put him in boot camp so he can learn respect and manners!
Put him in boot camp so he can learn respect and manners!
He needs to realize what 4 good kicks mean! His parents must have never did anything except say no no don’t do that!! What a POS
He needs to realize what 4 good kicks mean! His parents must have never did anything except say no no don’t do that!! What a POS
Put his sorry ass in prison! He knew what he was doing. He pursued that poor animal . Too bad the sea lion didn’t turn around and biting he’s a piece of garbage, but he probably does this to all animals. The judge needs to make it hurt, monetarily, and timewise in prison. He doesn’t deserve any kind of leniency!!
I agree with Todd. I would love to kick the crap out of this low life dirt bag! Lock him up!
I agree with Todd. I would love to kick the crap out of this low life dirt bag! Lock him up!
Can we all line-up and kick the crap out of the little monster who picked on an innocent animal? Kicking and then drowning him would probably make the world a better place considering the problems he is likely to cause in the future.
YES! KICK HIM OVER AND OVER!