Attorney for man accused of throwing rock at endangered Hawaiian monk seal says client was protecting turtles

The lawyer for a businessman accused of harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal is publically defending his lawsuit aft a viral video captured the incidental and sparked outrage online.

Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, is accused of throwing a stone astatine the caput of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal — 1 of the rarest marine mammals successful the satellite — earlier this period successful an incidental caught connected camera by beachgoers.

Lytvynchuk was arrested adjacent Seattle past week and charged with harassing and attempting to harass an endangered carnal successful usurpation of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the Department of Justice.

If convicted, helium could look up to 1 twelvemonth successful situation connected each charge, on with a good of up to $50,000 nether the Endangered Species Act and up to $20,000 nether the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, faces 2 national charges stemming from allegedly throwing a stone astatine the caput of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal connected May 5, 2026. (Department of Justice)

Lytvynchuk’s attorney, Myles Breiner, precocious defended his client, saying helium ne'er intended to injure the animal.

"I privation to beryllium resoundingly wide to the nationalist — helium ne'er intended to injure the monk seal," Breiner told KHON-TV News.

According to Breiner, Lytvynchuk believed helium was protecting oversea turtles, oregon honu, resting connected shoreline rocks.

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A Hawaiian monk seal and her newborn pup remainder connected a Waikiki formation successful Honolulu connected June 29, 2017. (Audrey McAvoy/AP)

"He wanted to scare the seal distant from the honu helium saw there," helium said. "Apparently, determination were 2 ample turtles and 1 had already been knocked disconnected the stone by the seal."

Breiner besides said his lawsuit did not cognize Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered taxon and was influenced by anterior experiences with assertive oversea lions portion sportfishing successful Washington state.

"Sea lions are precise aggressive," Breiner said. "They’ll instrumentality your bait, they’ll instrumentality your food — that’s been his experience."

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A Hawaiian monk seal sunbathes connected a formation successful Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii, connected March 27, 2022. (Danielle Pellini/Unknown)

Prosecutors accidental a viral video and witnesser accounts helped pb to the charge. According to the complaint, Lytvynchuk told witnesses helium was "rich capable to wage the fines," a characterization his lawyer disputes.

"What are you doing? Why would you propulsion a stone astatine it? Hello?" a pistillate tin beryllium heard shouting successful the video arsenic a antheral wearing a achromatic garment and aquatics trunks throws a stone toward the seal connected a Maui shoreline.

After witnesses confronted him, Lytvynchuk allegedly responded helium was "rich capable to wage the fines" if helium got into trouble.

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A Hawaiian monk seal sleeps connected a formation successful Hawaii. (Ryan Jenkinson/Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii)

Business records amusement Lytvynchuk owns a logistics and trucking institution based successful Kent, Washington.

Breiner said his lawsuit plans to instrumentality work for violating the instrumentality but disputes claims that helium intentionally tried to wounded the seal.

"He recognizes helium made a atrocious decision, but the determination wasn’t based connected trying to wounded the animal," Breiner said.

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The lawyer besides pushed backmost connected reports claiming Lytvynchuk said helium was affluent capable to wage immoderate fines.

"That was a misinterpretation," Breiner said. "The connection was, ‘I tin spend it.’"

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to Breiner for comment.

Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report.