Man Arrested For Stabbing Sea Lion

Calif. Fisherman Claimed 150 Lb. Female Sea Lion Stole His Bait

(AP)  A fisherman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a sea lion with a steak knife after the animal stole his bait.

Hai Nguyen, 24, was arrested Friday and being held at Newport Beach Jail on $20,000 bail. He was expected to be arraigned next week on a charge of felony cruelty to animals, authorities said.

The sea lion, a six-foot female weighing about 150 pounds, was severely wounded and was later euthanized.

"It's a horrible thing," said Dean Gomersall, animal care supervisor at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, where the animal was euthanized hours after the attack. "My crew is extremely upset, and we're just glad the person was caught."

Authorities said the case also was being investigated by the U.S. attorney's office for possible federal charges under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Police said Nguyen was fishing off a Newport pier about 12:30 p.m. when the sea lion apparently snatched the bait from his fishing pole.

Becoming upset, authorities said Nguyen stabbed the animal with a steak knife.

"It was close enough so he could just reach out and stab it in the water," said Sgt. Evan Sailor, a police spokesman. "A number of people witnessed it and called police."

Nguyen was arrested without incident at the pier, Sailor said.

The animal was recovered by volunteers from the marine mammal center. They discovered that a knife wound had pierced its heart.

Nguyen could face a $25,000 fine and up to a year in prison if convicted on the animal cruelty charge. A conviction on federal charges of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act could add $12,000 in civil penalties, criminal fines of up to $20,000 and additional jail time, authorities said.

[cryonbrian]

It would cost him less if he had stabbed a human!

[gmond]

Just two species doing what comes naturally.

[iceman_1960]

If that sea lion had been carrying a loaded gun, she'd be alive today.

I'm surprised GunOwnerDan (GOD, for short) hasn't pointed that out yet.

[bananaamy]

"....when the sea lion apparently snatched the bait from his fishing pole. Becoming upset, authorities said Nguyen stabbed the animal with a steak knife. "


WOW!That is one angry fisherman! Glad he wasnt upset with me!

[karen091866]

The sea lion didn't "steal" the bait.
Hello--- she was hungry & ATE it. Animals don't have instincts to STEAL.

What a violent person, though. Freak.
I guess the sea lion didn't have time to bite him in defense--would've served him right.

[iceman_1960]

"Animals don't have instincts to STEAL."

I once watched as a mink stole.

[tcoleman12]

What is he doing with a "Steak Knife" while fishing? Shouldn't it have been a fillet knife?

[iceman_1960]

"What is he doing with a "Steak Knife" while fishing? Shouldn't it have been a fillet knife?"
- Posted by tcoleman12 at 11:06 AM : Jul 28, 2007

You can never tell when a water buffalo may swim past. Or a sea cow.

[klewt]

re: "It would cost him less if he had stabbed a human."
Guess that would depend on whether or not they euthanized the human.

[jetranger7]

Immediate Sentence : Feed Him to the Sharks ! There now that wasn't so hard was it ! He's Shark Bait, simple as that !!!!

[hungry1968]

It's a toss up for scumbag of the week - this clown, Vick, or the current co-champions for over 6-1/2 years in a row - George Bush and Richard Cheney.

[realtor0715]

Good reply, hungry1968. To which we need to add the barbarians who raped, murdered, then burned the innocent famuly in CT.

[erasmus6]

Forget the fine, he probably doesn't have the money anyways. Give him the year in jail and maybe it will stop others from thinking they can get away with hurting animals.

[erasmus6]

I doubt if you will find GUNOWNERDAN on this site. The fisherman used a knife and the Sea Lion wasn't capable of using a gun to protect it's self.

[rushlimpdrug]

Hai Nguyen, 24, was arrested Friday and being held at Newport Beach Jail on $20,000 bail

I would love to see him sentenced to doing some type of community work at an animal shelter that cares for sea lions.
Having him feed sea lions for a few months would be great.
How bout it judge?

Hai Nguyen!
what a funny name.
Would it be Hi, Hai or hello, Hai.

[petesis]

Ridiculous. Those sea lions are a menace. If it let him get close enough to stab it then it needed to be stabbed. Hey all you Animal nuts. Why don't you invite a couple of them sea lions to a party in your backyard pool and see how you like that?

[nothappyatall]

"Ridiculous. Those sea lions are a menace. If it let him get close enough to stab it then it needed to be stabbed"petesis

You are a nut case, because an animal is TAME and docile enough to trust HUMAN SLIME, it should be killed?? and you wonder why animals don't usually trust unworthy humans, up yours pal!!!!!

[rushlimpdrug]

Petesis- I don't need to be labeled a "tree-hugger" or animal nut but animals "steal" food normal people will not go broke.
I'd like to see you put your money where your mouth is.
How about you throw a party for Hai Nguyen?

[shamrocker6]

What's with Asian people? These people come from a culture where animals are "things", and they seem to place no value or appriciation on the lesser creatures of this planet. Shame on them!!! Don't bring your bad habits/culture to America... we don't eat dogs here, buddy!

[trillion1]

I have to agree about Asians. So many sepecies are indangered because of their bizarre tastes. Starting with whales, tigers and rhinos.

[klingon69]

What is he doing with a "Steak Knife" while fishing? Shouldn't it have been a fillet knife?

Posted by tcoleman12 at 11:06 AM : Jul 28, 2007
What? You've never heard of fish steaks???

[dylanxxv]

Pathetic piece of human waste should be ground up and fed to the other sea lions...

[erasmus6]

"Ridiculous. Those sea lions are a menace. If it let him get close enough to stab it then it needed to be stabbed." posted by Petesis."

Okay all you animal loving, gun toting Americans, it is time to use those guns, SHOOT HIM!:)

[us18988]

Ship this clown, along with Kerry, Murtha, McDermott, Hagel and Webb back to Ho Chi Minh city - where he - and THEY - belong.

Or in a pen of killer sharks - :)

[doggymama]

Fisherman's Rage?

What on earth could Nguyen have been using for bait, Sevruga caviar dipped in truffle oil? Stabbing a sea lion over a smelly chunk of what was probably a chum-like substance is baaaaaad karma in any society. If he was fresh from Asia, then he is most likely Bhuddist, which means he believes he will be reincarnated. Let's hope he comes back as bait.

[fgoodroe]

It is high time someone protected animals. What people eat is another thing, we all enjoy a good hamburger, except "veggists" we love a nice barbecued one, too! In India, they are considered a God. So, to each his own, but to attack an animal, for doing what? ACTING like a hungry animal? My husband and I were down at Fisherman's wharf a few years ago, saw a BIG sea lion sunning himself down below on the edge of the water, he went down to pet it, and he saw the sign, I think it says warning these things run faster angrier than you do scareder! He changed his mind, he got back up by me and he held his hand up to block the sun from its eyes, and it turned and looked dead straight at him, okay we left there, continued down the road and we see a few fawns, ever so beautiful, naturally he went to pet them, when they were snorting at him, I was laughing so hard I was hoping I would not lose control of certain body functions, finally I said had he gotten his Patootie beaten in, how the hell did he expect me to stop laughing long enough to tell a cop what happened to you, I'd be standing there holding my sides saying "Wait, Wait wait! I gotta tell you my husband got his Patootie whumped by a docile baby doe!?!?!??!" It could take a full week of us laughing there before a cop would come to his rescue!
GOOOOODDD!!! I got a few of you smiling now! A good day to all!

[bacardistuff]

okay, I'll be honest. I'm surprised any animal control people came out. If this had happened in Dayton, Ohio, it would have been ignored. Animal abuse is rampant here and no matter how many phone calls animal control (aka the sheriff's dept) gets, the matter falls on deaf ears. I guess they are too busy eating those mythical donuts....

[carolrhill]

This man needs to be shot another 20 something person who only thinks of himself.
Maybe someone ought to stab him when he takes food off the table that was not given to him and see how he feels.
Just because this animal took his bate so what she probably hungry and took advantage of the food that was there and she did not have to go fishing.
THAT ANIMAL (I MEAN THE MAN) NEEDS TO BE SHOT NOW!!!
ALL THESE ANIMALS ARE GOD's ANIMALS HE WILL REALLY PAY LATER!!!

[chinesespy]

i kill these creatures every chance i get.they ruin fishing ground.shoot them or poison them,there are way to many of them and they need to be eliminated

[petesis]

All you tree huggers space cadets that think that hamburger fell out of a tree picked by a illegal alien would *** in your astronaut diapers if you saw how big a sea lion is. It was competing for food with this guy so he outcompeted it. Why can't you just let nature take it's course? Sealions that get too close or too bold get the blade. If the sealion had bitten the guy you wouldn't hear me complainin about that.

[jankebenz]

what a hypocritical lot you are, think about the animal you killed next time you sink your teeth into that burger or steak

[crystalblue3]

Hey "chinesespy"

If I ever find out who you are...you'd better pray you never EVER meet me.

[chinesespy]

Hey "chinesespy"

If I ever find out who you are...you'd better pray you never EVER meet me.
Posted by crystalblue3 at 07:53 PM : Jul 28, 2007


SCREW YOU,I WILL CONTINUE TO KILL THESE BEAST AND THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN STOP ME..I'M IN S.F.
in fact when i go fishing this week i will kill one in your honor.......i guess you can say you have blood on your hands

[hermit22]

wish they would catch childabusers as fast as they caught this guy.
people are worth more than animals.we need to be kind to both.

[aznyron-2009]

sadly this incident had to happen they are such cute mammals I am sure he could have just let it be but anger and macho man took over and the sea lion is dead to the person who spoke of abortion that also is wrong but we do need a good family planning to avoid unwanted preg. I am sure he will get punished and serve some jail time along with heavy fines no sympathy from me he will get what he deserves

[aznyron-2009]

I am a white American living in Thailand married to Isaan girl lao/thai farm girl so I take it personally when you make bigot remarks toward asian people get a life clean out you bigoted brain plant some thing use full in there as for US18988 you are a first class idiot but what can I expect from some one who voted for President Bush twice

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy out to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[jamnjim18]

This person goes and stabs a weak, defensless creature over the matter of a $0.50 piece of bait out to be hung out to dry. With all the cruality and inhumane acts going on these days with Vick and his alledged dog fighting ring and this charactor stabbing a Sea Lion, its time to crack down on society so that our kids don't grow up being as bad or worse than we are. This guy ought to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, because if he can stab an innocent animal, who is he going to stab next? Someone in his family for taking food out of the fridge or better yet, some stranger on the sidewalk who steps on his pumas? (shoe)

[iceman_1960]

"We live in a society where a man can be arrested for stabbing a sea lion yet women are given the right to murder unborn babies (human beings!!) through a process called abortion every single day."
- Posted by singinrick at 09:20 PM : Jul 28, 2007

There is no way an abortion in the first trimester is the killing of a human being.

If stopping "potential life" is killing a human being, then a homicide is committed every time you have a wet dream, and you should be pressuring your Congressman to find a way to prevent that from happening.

[iceman_1960]

I don't see the logic either, but I'd like to state my opinion that any pregnant female sea lion who wishes to terminate her pregnancy should have that right.

It's the sea lion's body, after all, and politicians have no right to tell her what to do.

[tmkgls]

A humorous comment posted by Iceman_1960 and he gets his point across:

Quote:

I don't see the logic either, but I'd like to state my opinion that any pregnant female sea lion who wishes to terminate her pregnancy should have that right.

It's the sea lion's body, after all, and politicians have no right to tell her what to do.

End Quote.

Don't get me wrong, I am totally against abortion as a means of birth control AND against animal cruelty BUT this article is about animal cruelty NOT abortion. If anyone wants to talk about abortion then go find an article about that and let's stick to what this article is about which is animal cruelty.

[zootallures2]

So, should a women have an abortion if she's raped by a sea lion?

That should have the feminists and liberals chasing their tails for years, heh?

[dowjones20k]

I concur on the abortion issue ......

This poor Bast*rd ....

He would have been much better off stabbing a person, lord knows that society would have just brushed it off, but goodness me, let it be an animal and the witch hunt begins for all of those animal haters .... not to mention the guy may well be a Vietnamese immigrant who does not understand our culture .... it's ok to kill each other ... but if an animal is killed, you better watch out !!

We have absolutely lost our fri*gin minds ....

God help us !!