Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk Arrested in Monk Seal Case — Criminal Lawyer
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a criminal lawyer defendant in the case, was arrested Tuesday at his Washington home after authorities said he threw a large rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Hawaii on May 5. Prosecutors charged him by criminal complaint for harassing and attempting to harass the seal.
The complaint says the conduct violated the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If he is convicted, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison for each charge, along with fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Lani and the viral video
Authorities said the animal in the video was a local monk seal named Lani. Prosecutors wrote that the rock appeared to land in the water and narrowly miss the seal’s head, while a witness described the rock as the size of a coconut. One witness told authorities that Lani was clearly not aggressive, and prosecutors said the seal abruptly altered its behavior after the rock was thrown.
Witness Kaylee Schnitzer, 18, told local news outlet KHON2 that she confronted the man after the incident. She said, “I turned around, and I was like, ‘You can’t do that,’” and added, “I’m rich. Fine me with whatever you want. I can pay for it. I come here every month.”
District of Hawaii complaint
The U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Hawaii quoted a witness saying Lytvynchuk was “rich enough to pay the fines” before walking away. Prosecutors said he remained silent and declined to provide a statement upon his arrest, and his case records did not list a lawyer.
U.S. attorney Ken Sorenson said, “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. We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”
The case now moves through federal court on a criminal complaint, with the charges tied to two wildlife statutes and the possibility of prison and fines if prosecutors secure a conviction.
