{
  "id": 901148,
  "title": "San Diego man pleads guilty to kicking protected sea lion in an attack caught on video",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/san-diego-man-pleads-guilty-to-kicking-protected-sea-lion-in-an",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T19:31:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/08/14/san-diego-man-pleads-guilty-to-kicking-protected-sea-lion-in-an-attack-caught-on-video"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A San Diego man, Tyler Muehl, has pleaded guilty to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act after he was caught on video kicking and chasing a protected sea lion at La Jolla Cove beach. The incident, which went viral, shows Muehl repeatedly kicking the sea lion as it tried to get away, with at least one person in the background laughing. Muehl, an 18-year-old from La Jolla, admitted to kicking the animal four times, with at least two kicks landing on the sea lion. As part of his plea agreement, Muehl acknowledged that the video accurately captures the incident. He faces up to a year in prison and a fine of $100,000 when he's sentenced on October 20.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "San Diego man pleads guilty to kicking protected sea lion in an attack caught on video",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/san-diego-man-pleads-guilty-to-kicking-protected-sea-lion-in-an-905033",
        "published": "2026-08-14T19:53:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}