Posted by on April 28, 2005 at 00:40:23:
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A man who shot and killed a California sea lion with a high-powered bow pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegally ``taking'' a marine mammal, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday.
Tyler Scott Bower pleaded guilty to the charge, which federal prosecutors say includes harassing, hunting, capturing, or killing a marine mammal. He faces up to a year in prison and a $20,000 fine when he is sentenced Aug. 22.
Bower admitted he shot the sea lion in December while it laid on a dock in the Crescent City harbor in Del Norte County, according to court records.
The sea lion was seen a day later on a dock in the Crescent City harbor with an arrow protruding from its abdomen. Authorities tried unsuccessfully to rescue the creature.
National Marine Fisheries special agents investigated the case for six weeks.