Sea lion stabbing suspect pleads guilty

A Garden Grove fisherman charged with stabbing a sea lion in Newport Harbor that had to later be euthanized has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Hai Nguyen, 24, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one misdemeanor count of attempting to kill a marine mammal, which is a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Nguyen is scheduled to be sentenced March 19 at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 411 West 4th St., Santa Ana. He faces a $20,000 fine and up to a year in prison, prosecutors said.

Nguyen was summoned to appear for the arraignment before a federal judge in September, and Orange County prosecutors, who had also filed charges against the man, dropped their case once the federal government took over.

Newport Beach Police arrested Nguyen in July where he was fishing off a pier. He reportedly stabbed the animal with a steak knife because it grabbed bait from his fishing line, authorities said.

The sea lion was taken to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, where it was later euthanized.

KELLY STRODL may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at kelly.strodl@latimes.com.