Federal prosecutors say Jordan Gerbich pled guilty to one count of illegally killing a marine mammal.
Investigators say in September of 2019, Gerbich went to an elephant seal viewing area near the Piedras Blancas Marine Reserve at night. He had a pistol, and a flashlight.
Prosecutors say he shot and killed one of the northern elephant seals, which are a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The 30-year-old man now lives in Utah, but at the time was living in Santa Maria. In addition to the three-month prison sentence, Gerbich was ordered to serve three months of home detention, a year of supervised release, pay a fine and do community service.
