A Washington state tourist charged with throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal at a Lahaina beach has pleaded not guilty and been ordered to stay away from Hawaii beaches. Multiple news sources report the incident has sparked widespread condemnation and that the defendant claims he was trying to protect sea turtles.
- Igor Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, pleaded not guilty to charges of harassing and attempting to harass a protected animal
- Judge ordered him to stay away from beaches and marine wildlife while in Hawaii pending trial
- Video shows him throwing a coconut-sized rock that narrowly missed the head of monk seal ‘R404’ at a Lahaina beach
- Defense attorney claims Lytvynchuk thought the seal was an aggressive sea lion and was trying to protect sea turtles
- Lytvynchuk has been physically assaulted, threatened and doxed since the incident became public
- He received a package containing what appeared to be feces at his home (The Inertia)
- Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered with only 1,600 left in the wild (The Inertia)
- If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison for each charge plus fines
Sources
- Orlandosentinel: Washington tourist pleads not guilty in Hawaiian monk seal rock case, barred from Hawaii beaches
- Nbcbayarea: Tourist accused of hurling rock at Hawaiian monk seal has been doxed and threatened, lawyer says
- The Inertia: Man Who Threw Rock at Hawaiian Monk Seal Has Been Doxed, Harassed, and Assaulted
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