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Man convicted of shooting sea lion in Sacramento River is sentenced; sea lion has reconstructive surgery

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YUBA CITY, Calif. — A Sacramento man convicted of shooting a sea lion in the head will spend 30 days in jail and five years on probation.

Larry Legans was also ordered Friday to pay $51,081 in restitution for the cost of treating the sea lion. Authorities say Legans shot the animal while fishing on the Sacramento River in 2009 because it was taking his fish.

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The nearly 650-pound sea lion, now known as Sgt. Nevis, underwent plastic surgery at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo last week to close holes in his muzzle caused by the shotgun blast. The sea lion was named after the animal control officer who captured it.

Legans pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of maiming or wounding an animal. Prosecutors say he is barred from all hunting or fishing while on probation.

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-- Associated Press

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