An 18-year-old La Jolla man who repeatedly kicked a resting California sea lion while pretending to be UFC star Max Holloway has pleaded guilty to a federal charge stemming from the viral attack.
Tyler Muehl pleaded guilty Thursday in San Diego federal court to a misdemeanor violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The case centers on a July 22 incident at La Jolla Cove that was captured on video and quickly spread across social media.
According to the plea agreement, the confrontation happened late that night near Ellen Browning Scripps Park, where a California sea lion was resting on a low seawall. Muehl approached the animal with his hands raised in a fighting stance and identified himself as “Max Holloway.”
He then kicked the sea lion four times.
At least two of the kicks struck the animal in the face, causing it to flinch and recoil. When the sea lion attempted to escape, Muehl followed it, kicking again as it stumbled along the seawall before delivering another blow. The animal eventually managed to get over the wall and onto the beach.
Muehl admitted that he made physical contact with the sea lion and agreed that the video accurately depicted the incident.
The footage, timestamped at roughly 11:50 p.m., initially circulated through private Snapchat posts before spreading to Instagram and other social media platforms. The response was swift, with viewers and animal advocates calling for Muehl to face consequences.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria condemned the incident as a “disgusting act of animal cruelty,” while NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement launched a federal investigation because California sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The law broadly defines the prohibited “taking” of a marine mammal to include harassment, pursuit or other conduct that can injure an animal or disrupt its natural behavior. By pleading guilty, Muehl acknowledged that his actions violated those protections.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon summarized the case bluntly: “Federal crime. Federal consequences.”
Eric Morgan, assistant director of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division, also emphasized the seriousness of intentionally striking a marine mammal, saying such conduct is illegal and can endanger the animal’s well-being.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Allen and Elizabet Brown handled the prosecution.
The viral video also led to a separate case of mistaken identity. Social media users incorrectly identified another 18-year-old San Diego resident, Ryland Cuttitta, as the person seen attacking the sea lion after Cuttitta sarcastically commented on the footage that it was “clearly self defense.”
His name and family’s address were subsequently shared online, leading to threats and harassment. Cuttitta and his mother publicly denied the allegations, saying he was not at La Jolla Cove when the attack occurred.
Muehl’s guilty plea has now established who was responsible and cleared Cuttitta of the accusations.
Muehl faces a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 20 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between crowds and wildlife at La Jolla Cove, where visitors frequently gather near protected marine animals. But unlike cases involving accidental encounters or tourists getting too close, prosecutors say this incident involved deliberate physical contact with a protected animal.
Now, Muehl will have to wait for a federal judge to determine just how serious those consequences will be.
