Man faces prison for shooting dead elephant seal on California beach
Culprit faces a maximum of one year in jail
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man who shot an elephant seal dead on a California beach last year faces prison.
Jordan Gerbich, 30, on Monday pleaded guilty to killing the mammal on the coast of San Simeon in September.
Northern elephant seals are a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
It was not immediately clear why the 30-year-old killed the seal.
But Mr Gerbich did admit that he drove to an elephant seal viewing area in San Simeon on 28 September, the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a statement.
He visited the spot near Piedras Blancas Marine Reserve, carrying a flashlight and was armed with a .45-caliber pistol.
Mr Gerbich shot the seal while it rested on the beach.
It was found the following day with a bullet hole in its head.
The mammal had been cut open and had its tail fins removed, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.
At the time, the agency offered a $20,000 reward for information in the killing.
Mr Gerbich confessed to NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement after his home was searched in January, according to court documents.
US district judge Dale S. Fischer has scheduled a sentencing hearing for 12 April 2021.
Mr Gerbich is charged with one count of taking a marine mammal and faces a maximum of one year in jail.
According to the NOAA, commercial hunting almost pushed northern elephant seals to extinction around 1900.
Their numbers have since recovered, the agency added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments