Spearfisherman's rare encounter with sea lion prompts full-water rescue
A free-diving spearfisherman was suddenly rendered helpless after a rare encounter with a sea lion Monday morning off San Diego.
Thomas Henman, 19, was spearfishing about 200 yards off the La Jolla Children's Pool. He had just speared a sheepshead and went to grab it when a sea lion blindsided him, knocking his mask off.
"The sea lion came right over top of me, grabbed, I think the GoPro with its mouth or something, knocked my whole mask off," Henman told ABC 10News.
He lost his mask and GoPro, along with his speargun. In the process, his contact lenses were knocked out, prompting him to call the lifeguards for help.
"It was definitely like they turned it into like a full-water rescue thing,' Henman told ABC 10News. 'I couldn't see, cause I can't see like 5 feet in front of me, so I didn't want to just come up on the shore, like with the rocks and get swept in.'
Henman got a spare mask and went back to retrieve his speargun but couldn't find the GoPro.
Also on FTW: Banned item found in Great Smoky Mountains, prompts advisory
'The intermingling of sea lions and people has been a hot topic in La Jolla for years,' ABC 10News reported. 'In 2023, the San Diego City Council voted to close the Point La Jolla bluffs year-round to protect the mammals. That area is between the Children's Pool and La Jolla Cove.'
Sierra Club Seal Society Chair Robyn Davidoff told ABC 10News that it is recommended that people stay at least 50 feet from the sea lions.
'I think this is a very unusual situation,' she told ABC 10News. 'We have hundreds of people swimming in the cove every single day, and we rarely have an incident like this.'
Most believe that the sea lion was going after the speared fish.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Spearfisher's rare encounter with sea lion prompts full-water rescue
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Utah judge's sentence on child pornography offender sparks controversy, the court's response
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I think there are aggravating factors, such as the distribution. Now, I know he's engaged in treatment… but this type of behavior and this type of charge demands, in the interest of justice for the children, that he be incarcerated in the Utah State Prison,' Stocks concluded. Tara Isaacson, the defense attorney for Hoffman, then provided her recommendation. She started by stating that Hoffman is only 22 years old, and was 20 when he committed the offense. Isaacson said that those who are under 21 when committing these types of offenses usually receive a lighter sentence due to their age. Hoffman completed a psychosexual evaluation and has been involved in 'intense' sex offender therapy while the case was being processed, according to Isaacson. She also stated that since his release, he has been engaged in the community, found a job, and entered an age-appropriate relationship, all things that she claims have prevented him from reoffending. Red Rock Canyon School faces lawsuit over employee's alleged sexual misconduct 'This is not a family, or a defendant, who has downplayed or minimized the seriousness of this. We recognize that these images are terrible, and that this pornography is terrible and these images are awful, but this is someone who has absolutely not attempted to minimize… in every single category, he was in the low range, I rarely ever see that,' Isaacson told the court. Isaacson stated that Hoffman acknowledged what he did was wrong during therapy and did not try to 'minimize' the crime that he had committed. She stated that Hoffman would not be receiving a light sentence as he was working hard to turn his life around after being jailed at age 20. 'I think this is a situation where Aidan has demonstrated, over the last months he's been out, that he can follow the rules, he can comply, he's engaged and motivated in treatment and he's not given up. Instead, he's really kicked into overdrive to try to be productive and to contribute to society,' Isaacson said. In AP&P's review of the sentencing recommendation from the defense, Isaacson said they did not find the aggravating circumstances mentioned by the prosecution and recommended the jail sentence. She asked for an appropriate jail sentence for Hoffman's actions based on this recommendation. McDonald's employee charged for alleged sexual relationship with 16-year-old coworker Hoffman then addressed Judge Torgerson to share his statement before sentencing. 'Since I was released, I've been engaged in intensive treatment. In that treatment, I've worked on being accountable for what I've done, and also I've learned about the abuse perpetuated through the viewing and sharing of child pornography and just how awful that abuse is,' Hoffman stated. He shared that he felt guilty about the images and videos he viewed and regretted the impact it had on those child victims. Hoffman said that he was working hard to build a new life in Utah and completing therapy while complying with all restrictions of probation. He intends to start college in the fall if AP&P allows. 'I'm grateful, to some extent, that law enforcement intervened, because I needed help for something real. And it's something that's not — it's not something you can talk about with people, you can't bring it up to your parents, you can't find help normally in society, and unfortunately, I had to confront this problem in the worst way possible,' Hoffman said. Hoffman concluded by saying there was no justification for what he did, but he was committed to being better, and he was willing to do 'whatever the court sees fit.' 'I've done defense work, I've seen worse. That's not to minimize at all, Mr. Hoffman, what has happened here. You didn't perpetrate those two videos that I saw… what you did was pour all that gasoline on all those fires, because by viewing and sharing those images, you were stoking a problem that just seems to grow,' Judge Torgerson stated. U.S. Army Sgt. charged with 30 felonies for alleged online sexual relationship with 15-year-old Judge Torgerson stated that it was a large problem in Utah, and that he's seen it among young adults with access to social media and phones, and that he's also seen it in older adults who don't have that same access. 'Mr. Stocks' position on this, I think, is well-founded, to say that there's really zero tolerance from his perspective as the county attorney for this kind of behavior. The reality is a little different, and I think the [pre-sentence investigation] takes that into consideration in its recommendation,' Judge Torgerson continued. He clarified that the pre-sentence investigation's recommendation is created through reviewing similar cases and comparing how those sentencings were handled. 'I can't send everybody to prison who views child pornography. There aren't enough prisons. There aren't enough prisons for people who are severe, extreme viewers of child pornography, like you,' he said. 'I think it's like alcoholism, and you may not, but the compulsion to view child pornography, scientists will say, may or may not be an addiction.' Judge Torgerson stated that he didn't believe Hoffman's addiction began with CSAM, but rather adult pornography, and that Hoffman had escalated that addiction. He said that Hoffman was not yet a 75-year-old 'Mormon bishop' who is perpetrating on children and grandchildren, and hopes that he will never become that. Utah National Guardsman arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse The judge told Hoffman that he was young, he had too much time on his hands, and that he had shown an improvement from who he was when he was 20. Judge Torgerson stated that this was going to be a life-long process, and Hoffman needed to prevent this compulsion and addiction from returning. 'Children get raped because of men like you, who encourage that kind of perpetrating,' he stated. 'I truly do hope what your therapist says is true about you and the work that you've done.' Judge Torgerson followed AP&P's recommendation and sentenced him to 1 to 15 years in prison, the standard sentence for that felony charge. He then suspended the sentences and placed Hoffman on probation, and gave him credit for time served in jail. 'Does that mean I'm going easy on you here? I don't know. I don't want you to engage in this kind of activity, obviously. You don't want to, I trust. Your parents don't want you to do that… if you violate the terms of your probation, I won't hesitate to send you to prison,' Judge Torgerson stated. He concluded by reminding Hoffman that this was an opportunity to correct his behaviors and make a difference, but the right to that opportunity could be taken away. Judge Torgerson said he would not hesitate to give the maximum sentence if he saw Hoffman in his courtroom again. Federal trade court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law Low water levels lead to increased fishing limits at Crouse Reservoir Lt. Gov. Henderson gets more death threats over Primary signature gathering issues — How will they be handled? Utah judge's sentence on child pornography offender sparks controversy, the court's response 'New milestones:' Seismic upgrade almost complete at Salt Lake City temple, renovations ongoing Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
