Man beat sick, pregnant sea lion on CA beach, officials say. He’s going to prison

A 32-year-old man is going to prison after pleading guilty to beating a sick sea lion on a California beach, officials said.

In March, a woman who was walking her dog called 911 after seeing a sea lion stuck on the rocks of Ventura Promenade, McClatchy News reported.

The sea lion was suffering from domoic acid toxicosis, a neurotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms that can cause animals to have seizures, according to a July 17 news release by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.

When officers arrived, they checked the security footage and saw a man, later identified as Christopher Hurtado, kicking the pregnant sea lion in the head, according to a June 17 news release by the Ventura County District Attorney.

After sitting on the rocks for a little, Hurtado eventually grabbed a 4-foot-long piece of driftwood and struck the sea lion twice, prosecutors said.

“Ventura County was outraged by the violence this defendant inflicted on a defenseless animal,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in the release. “The nature of this senseless attack shocked our conscience and called for aggressive prosecution.”

Officers arrested Hurtado and found 0.06 grams of methamphetamine in his pocket, officials said.

Due to the domoic acid poisoning, the sea lion had to be euthanized, officials said.

Hurtado pleaded guilty to felony counts of animal cruelty and drug possession, officials said.

The sea lion being pregnant “led to a more severe sentence,” officials said.

On July 14, he was sentenced to three years in prison, officials said.

Sea lions and other marine mammals are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and officials urge the public to call 800-853-1964 if they see anyone harassing a marine mammal, officials said.

As for beachgoers who come across animals that may be affected by harmful algal blooms, they are asked to give the animals “plenty of space,” officials said.

Ventura is about a 70-mile drive northwest from Los Angeles.

This story was originally published July 21, 2025 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Man beat sick, pregnant sea lion on CA beach, officials say. He’s going to prison."