Not Guilty Plea in Sea Lion Stabbing

LOS ANGELES – A fisherman accused of stabbing a sea lion that apparently stole his bait pleaded not guilty Monday to violating the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Hai Nguyen, 24, of Garden Grove, faces a misdemeanor count of illegally taking and attempting to kill a marine mammal, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian said. If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Nguyen was arrested July 27 in Newport Beach. Police said he was fishing off a pier when the sea lion, a 6-foot female weighing about 150 pounds, apparently snatched the bait from his fishing line.

Authorities said Nguyen stabbed the sea lion with a steak knife. The animal was taken to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, where staff found the knife had pierced its heart. The sea lion was later euthanized.

Nguyen’s attorney said the sea lion was already stabbed before it reached the fisherman.

“It was bleeding before it came toward my client,” attorney Robert Viefhaus said.