The Associated Press

Fri, May 16, 2008 (12:27 a.m.)

A fisherman who admitted stabbing a sea lion that apparently took bait from his fishing line was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla Woehrle also ordered Hai Nguyen, 25, of Garden Grove, Calif., to serve 200 hours of community service. He had faced up to one year in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Nguyen pleaded guilty in November to a misdemeanor count of illegally taking and attempting to kill a marine mammal, admitting that he violated the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. He said he meant to scare the sea lion away but never intended to kill it.

Nguyen was arrested in July in Newport Beach after witnesses told police they saw him stabbing the 6-foot-long 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 the sea lion's heart. It was later euthanized.

Nguyen's attorney, Robert Viefhaus, said his client regrets the incident and felt the verdict was fair.