Sea lion shot
Verona, CA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009
County: Sacramento
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Larry Allen Legans
California game wardens early today arrested a North Highlands man for allegedly shooting a sea lion in the Sacramento River.
The case prompted widespread sympathy for the sea lion when the suffering animal was spotted on a dock in Old Sacramento last week with a gruesome wound near its right eye. A witness at the time claimed the animal had been shot. But that remained unproven -- until this morning.
A team of about eight wardens from the California Department of Fish and Game arrested Larry Allen Legans, 43, after raiding his home on 34th Street in North Highlands at about 7 a.m. this morning [Nov 21, 2009].
Warden Patrick Foy said that, upon questioning, Legans admitted shooting the sea lion with a 12-gauge shotgun on Nov. 11 while fishing from his boat in the Sacramento River near Verona. A shotgun allegedly used in the crime was confiscated from the home as evidence.
"He said he was tired of watching sea lions take his fish," said Foy.
Foy said Legans allegedly told a fisherman in another nearby boat that he "may not want to watch this," then loaded a slug round into a shotgun he was carrying in his boat. He then allegedly fired on the sea lion when it surfaced nearby.
The case materialized after that witness later reported the suspect's license plate number to authorities, Foy said.
About a half-dozen sea lions have begun to spend much of the year in the Sacramento River between Rio Vista and Verona. The animals have outraged fishermen because they frequently seize fish right off the hook. The alleged shooting is the first documented example of retribution by an angler.
Sea lions are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a federal law. Legans was arrested on misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, negligent discharge of a firearm, and take of a marine mammal.
The injured sea lion has not been seen since it slipped back into the river from a dock in Old Sacramento on Nov. 12. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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