Washington Tourist Pleads Not Guilty in Hawaiian Monk Seal Rock Case, Barred From Hawaii Beaches
Federal prosecutors say the rock missed the seal but caused it to change course, and the species has about 1,600 left in the wild.
- Federal prosecutors charged Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old Washington resident, with taking an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on May 5 by allegedly throwing a large rock at the seal's head. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Honolulu on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom A. Trader.
- Mobile phone footage recorded by two witnesses on May 5 shortly after 10:30 a.m. shows Lytvynchuk holding a large rock before aiming and throwing it directly at the monk seal, according to federal court records. The rock, described as coconut-sized, narrowly missed the seal's head but caused it to rear up and turn in the opposite direction.
- Only 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals remain in the wild after being listed as endangered in 1976. Scientists identified the targeted seal as adult male R404. If convicted, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison per charge and combined fines of up to $100,000 under federal wildlife protection laws.
- Defense attorney Myles Breiner claims Lytvynchuk mistook the seal for an aggressive sea lion and intended to protect sea turtles, while U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said the charges demonstrate commitment to protecting Hawaii's endangered wildlife from illegal harassment.
- Senator Brian Schatz called for NOAA to enhance public education about protecting Hawaiian monk seals following the incident. NOAA recommends maintaining at least 50 feet from seals resting on shore and at least 150 feet from nursing mothers.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Man charged in monk seal attack pleads not guilty, ordered to stay away from Hawaii beaches, wildlife
Igor Lytvynchuk pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to hurt a Hawaiian monk seal in his first court appearance in Honolulu, and was released on a $25,000 bond with the condition that he not go to any beaches while in Hawaii and not approach any wildlife.
Covington man accused of throwing rock at Hawaiian monk seal banned from Hawaii beaches
The Covington man accused of hurling a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal faced a federal judge in Honolulu Wednesday. Igor Lytvynchuk, 38, pleaded not guilty to charges of harassing and attempting to harass a protected animal. “He was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond,” Aislinn Affinito, Chief of Major Crimes at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, stated. “As part of his conditions of release, he is pro…
Suspect in viral monk seal harassment video says he was doxxed as federal court fight begins
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, accused of hurling a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui, faces a federal court hearing. His lawyer says he never intended to harm it.
“Please Feel Bad for Me” Pleads Tourist Who Threw Rocks at Endangered Seal in Hawaii
Truly, there is no form of backpedaling on Earth that has quite the velocity, or inherent amusement, of the everyday idiot who just became an internet pariah because they were caught on tape doing something viciously stupid or cruel, and are now attempting to form-fit a new narrative that casts themselves as the secretly noble party. What rationale, for instance, would you expect a person to employ after being caught on video hurling coconut-siz…
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