A Washington state man pleaded not guilty in federal court to charges of harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal after a video showed him throwing a rock at the animal. The incident, which occurred in Lahaina, Maui, has drawn widespread condemnation and raised awareness about protections for the rare marine mammal.
The man accused of throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal pleaded not guilty to charges of harassing and attempting to harass an endangered animal during a Honolulu federal court appearance on Wednesday.
The defendant, identified as Igor Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old resident of Covington, Washington, faces two federal counts under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act for the incident that occurred on May 5, 2026, along the shoreline in Lahaina, Maui. Video evidence widely circulated online shows Lytvynchuk hurling a rock roughly the size of a coconut at the head of a seal that was playing with a floating log.
After bystanders intervened and threatened to involve law enforcement, Lytvynchuk allegedly responded, "I don't care, fine me, I'm rich," claiming he had sufficient wealth to cover any penalties. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison per count and a fine up to $70,000. During the hearing, Lytvynchuk's defense team argued that he mistakenly believed the seal was an aggressive sea lion and was attempting to protect nearby turtles.
His attorney also noted that Lytvynchuk has received death threats and other harassment since the video went viral. The judge ruled that Lytvynchuk may remain out of custody pending further proceedings but imposed several conditions: he must stay away from beaches and marine wildlife while in Hawaii, he may attend future hearings remotely from Washington, and any travel to Oahu requires prior approval.
The judge also highlighted that Lytvynchuk is a naturalized U.S. citizen who previously surrendered his passport, warning that a conviction would trigger passport surrender to the State Department and possibly Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The next court date is scheduled for May 27 in Honolulu. The case has sparked significant community outrage and commentary from local officials and residents.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen issued a statement saying, "Let me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui.
" Hawaiian wildlife advocates and locals expressed frustration over what they perceive as entitled tourist behavior and inadequate protection for native species. "We are tired of entitled tourists, we're tired of these corrupt agencies who ignore what the Hawaiian people want," said Sweet T, a Hawaiian wildlife advocate. Walter Woods, who attended the hearing, added, "You got to pay for what you've done, you got to pay the price, it's like anything else.
You have to pay the fine, probation, time in prison whatever, whatever it takes.
" Hawaiian monk seals are among the rarest marine mammals globally, with a wild population of approximately 1,600 individuals found exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands. They receive strict protections under federal law, making any harassment a serious offense. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between tourism and conservation in Hawaii, as well as the legal consequences for harming protected wildlife.
The investigation involved the U.S. Department of Justice, court documents from U.S. District Court, a press release by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, and original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle. The appended mention of a Vancouver, BC kayaker found dead in 2022 linked to Seattle area appears unrelated to the main story and is not part of the substantive news content regarding the seal harassment case
Hawaiian Monk Seal Endangered Species Wildlife Harassment Tourism Controversy Maui
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man accused of murdering Caltech scientist at his Los Angeles County home pleads not guiltyCarl Grillmair was an astronomer and astrophysicist at Caltech. His research mainly focused on dark matter, galactic structure, stellar populations and exoplanets.
Read more »
Man pleads not guilty in renowned Caltech scientist’s killingFreddy O. Snyder, now 30, is charged in the Feb. 16 killing of Carl Grillmair, 67, who is revered in the astronomy field for discovering water on a distant planet.
Read more »
WA tourist pleads not guilty in Hawaiian monk seal rock case, barred from Hawaii beachesA tourist from Washington state pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges accusing him of hurling a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal.
Read more »
Covington man accused of throwing rock at Hawaiian monk seal banned from Hawaii beachesThe Covington man accused of hurling a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal faced a federal judge in Honolulu Wednesday.
Read more »