Fishermen Who Caught Endangered Fish Settle Case

NEWPORT BEACH (AP) — Two fisherman who caught an endangered black sea bass off Newport Beach last year avoided possible jail time by settling their case.

The Orange County Register reports Thursday that Jonathan Paul Apothaker and John Francis Brady will perform 120 hours of community service. Each will pay $75 in a plea deal that reduced their misdemeanor charges to infractions.

Both men could have faced up to six months in jail for not immediately returning the fish to the water.

Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, says prosecutors objected to the deal.

Last year Apothaker caught the fish and Brady helped pull it in. A video posted online showed Apothaker holding up the fish before returning it to water.

Later, the fish washed up on the beach.

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