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() A man accused of decapitating a California sea lion this summer is denying he had any wrongdoing.
Jason Bietz, who recently appeared on a wanted poster issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), mentioned that he submitted a photograph to demonstrate his innocence. The image depicted the sea lion in the same state nearly five hours before law enforcement arrived.
“The photo showed the sea lion positioned exactly the same way it was observed by law enforcement later that evening,” Bietz confirmed.
Authorities mentioned that a Caucasian male, estimated to be in his 50s or 60s, was witnessed using a hunting knife to sever the deceased sea lion’s head. Investigators noted that the sea lion was already deceased prior to the event, though the cause of death remains unknown.
The NOAA has removed the wanted poster of Bietz from its website.
“The individual has been found, and it was confirmed that no parts of the marine mammal were removed from the beach. We appreciate the public’s assistance and concern in this case,” NOAA stated in a communication.
California sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, meaning harassing, harming, killing or feeding the animals is prohibited.
Those who breach the act may face significant fines and, if found guilty on criminal charges, could receive up to a year in prison for each violation, according to officials.
