An 18-year-old man from La Jolla, California, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge after he was filmed repeatedly kicking a sea lion at La Jolla Cove while pretending to be UFC athlete Max Holloway.
According to sources, the incident happened in late July 2026 when Tyler Muehl approached a sea lion resting on a seawall. Mole reportedly raised his hands into a high guard stance, invoked Holloway’s name, and then kicked the animal multiple times as it tried to get away.
In total, four kicks were thrown and two landed before the sea lion scrambled over the wall and down onto the beach. The entire encounter was filmed and posted to social media, first appearing on Snapchat before spreading to Instagram, TikTok, and beyond.
The video quickly drew condemnation from local officials. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria posted that “this disgusting act of animal cruelty is unacceptable” and said he had directed local law enforcement to review the footage. Gloria and City Council President Joe LaCava later released a joint statement calling the incident “disturbing and unacceptable,” adding, “This act of animal cruelty has no place in San Diego, and those responsible should be held fully accountable.”
PETA also urged the public to speak up when witnessing this kind of behavior, while the volunteer group Sierra Club Seal Society reported the footage to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The group’s chair, Robin Davidoff, called it “an intentional and repeated attack for no reason.”
The location makes the case more serious. Point La Jolla was closed to the public in 2023 specifically because of conflicts between people and sea lions, and the Sierra Club Seal Society says nearly half the pups born at La Jolla Cove this year have passed away, compared with roughly 10 percent at a protected site nearby.
NOAA recommends staying 150 feet from sea lions, though San Diego’s local guidance sets that distance at 20 feet. NOAA is also the only agency with legal authority to cite someone for harassing a marine mammal, and it reportedly has only four officers covering the entire state of California.
Muehl pleaded guilty on August 13, 2026, to a misdemeanor violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said simply, “Federal cr*me, federal consequences.”
NOAA added that “intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is not only illegal, it is dangerous for the well-being of the animal.” The maximum penalty is one year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine, though his plea deal may reduce that. Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026, in San Diego federal court.
