A 38-year-old man identified as Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk is charged in connection with an incident captured on video in Hawaii in which a rock is thrown at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu says he is accused of harassing a protected animal. Multiple outlets report that he is from Covington, Washington, and that he was taken into custody near Seattle on Wednesday. One outlet notes that the incident occurred at a Lahaina beach on May 5. The charges are federal, and one report says that if convicted, he faces possible prison time and substantial fines. Coverage also references statements from his lawyer, who characterizes the act as intended to protect other wildlife, though the criminal allegation remains that he harassed a protected marine animal. The case follows public attention generated by a viral video showing the rock-throwing incident.
Tourist charged after viral video shows rock thrown at endangered Hawaiian monk seal
A 38-year-old man identified as Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk is charged in connection with an incident captured on video in Hawaii in which a rock is thrown at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The U....
- Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, is charged in Honolulu, Hawaii, with harassing a protected animal.
- Prosecutors say the incident involved an endangered Hawaiian monk seal shown in a viral video.
- He is from Covington, Washington, and is reported to have been arrested near Seattle on Wednesday.
- At least one report says the incident occurred on May 5 at a Lahaina beach.
- The outlets report that federal charges carry potential prison time and substantial fines if convicted.
Igor Lytvynchuk, 38, was hit with federal charges and beaten up by locals after the caught-on-video incident at a Lahaina beach on May 5, but was only trying to protect the turtles -- known locally as honu -- by scaring the beloved seal away, his lawyer told reporters.
3 months agoIgor Lytvynchuk, 38, was seen on video throwing a huge rock at a seal in Hawaii, as his attorney offered up a staggering excuse for the incident.
3 months agoIgor Lytvynchuk, 38, was seen on video throwing a huge rock at a seal in Hawaii, as his attorney offered up a staggering excuse for the incident.
3 months agoIgor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, from Covington, Washington, was taken into custody near Seattle on Wednesday and charged with harassing a protected marine animal, according to the US attorney's office in Honolulu.
3 months agoIgor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk faces prison and substantial fines if convicted of harassing a protected animal
3 months agoIgor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, is charged with harassing a protected animal, the US attorney’s office in Honolulu said.
3 months ago
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