LOS ANGELES (AP) — A fisherman who admitted stabbing a sea lion that apparently took bait from his fishing line was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla Woehrle also ordered Hai Nguyen, 25, of Garden Grove, Calif., to serve 200 hours of community service. He had faced up to one year in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Nguyen pleaded guilty in November to a misdemeanor count of illegally taking and attempting to kill a marine mammal, admitting that he violated the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. He said he meant to scare the sea lion away but never intended to kill it.

Click here to read the complete story.