A Santa Paula man who was caught on surveillance video beating a sick sea lion with a large stick has pleaded guilty to felony charges and now faces up to three years in state prison.
Christopher Hurtado, 32, admitted Monday to one count of animal cruelty and one count of drug possession after officials say he abruptly changed his plea ahead of trial.
He also admitted to aggravating factors, including a prior strike and the vulnerability of the animal.
“Ventura County was outraged by the violence this defendant inflicted on a defenseless animal,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko wrote in a news release issued Tuesday. “The nature of this senseless attack shocked our conscience and called for aggressive prosecution.”…