Lawyer Says Tourist Accused of Hurling Rock at Hawaiian Monk Seal Was Doxed and Threatened

A Washington state tourist accused of throwing a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal is due in U.S. District Court in Honolulu on Wednesday on federal charges of harassing and attempting to harass a protected animal. Prosecutors say the incident was captured on video earlier this month at a Maui beach and showed Igor Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, throwing the rock directly at the seal, narrowly missing its head. The video prompted widespread condemnation in Hawaii and calls for prosecution, including from Maui’s mayor. Scientists identified the animal as an adult male monk seal known as R404, according to NOAA.

According to a criminal complaint, a state Department of Land and Natural Resources officer investigated reports of monk seal harassment in Lahaina after a witness showed video of the incident. The complaint says Lytvynchuk told a witness he did not care and was rich enough to pay any fines. Federal prosecutors said he later arranged to surrender in the Seattle area while special agents from NOAA were seeking to arrest him.

Lytvynchuk’s defense attorney, Myles Breiner, said his client was not trying to harm the seal, but was attempting to protect sea turtles. Breiner said Lytvynchuk is a fisherman who believed the animal was an aggressive sea lion and did not know it was a Hawaiian monk seal. He said the defendant had visited Hawaii before and was familiar with sea turtles, but not monk seals. Breiner argued the case shows NOAA should do more to educate the public about protecting Hawaiian monk seals.

Breiner also said Lytvynchuk has since been physically assaulted, threatened and doxed after the video became public. He said his client did not file a police report after what he described as a brutal attack. The attorney said Lytvynchuk has received death threats and a package at his home that appeared to contain feces. Breiner also claimed his client is being treated unfairly because he is a white outsider, saying most attacks on monk seals and turtles are carried out by locals.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said the case underscores the need for NOAA to strengthen public education about protecting Hawaiian monk seals. The species is critically endangered, with only about 1,600 remaining in the wild. Lytvynchuk faces charges under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison for each charge, along with fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.