Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old resident of Covington, Washington, was charged on May 12 with harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a large rock at the animal’s head. United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced the charges on May 13. Lytvynchuk was arrested near Seattle by Special Agents of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is currently in custody. He is scheduled for an initial court appearance in Seattle on May 14.
The case centers around an incident that occurred on May 5 along the shoreline in Lahaina, Maui. According to a criminal complaint unsealed this week, Lytvynchuk was observed tracking a monk seal known as “Lani” as she played near the shore. The complaint alleges that he picked up a large rock, aimed it at Lani’s head, and threw it directly at her. The rock narrowly missed her nose, startling her and causing her to rear up out of the water. Witnesses confronted Lytvynchuk after the incident; he reportedly responded that he was “rich enough to pay the fines” before leaving the area. Observers said that Lani remained largely immobile for some time afterward.
If convicted, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison for each charge and could be fined up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
“The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”
The charges remain accusations at this stage; any sentence would be determined if there is a conviction based on statutory factors and sentencing guidelines set by federal law.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating this case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar will prosecute it.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii investigates federal crimes such as these incidents involving protected species while representing civil matters from its main office in Honolulu; it serves approximately 1.5 million residents across all islands with a staff comprising 23 lawyers among other professionals according to their official website.
