A tourist who was filmed throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal has claimed he did so to protect two turtles he believed were in danger. Igor Lytvynchuk, 38, launched the projectile at the defenseless animal during a trip to Lahaina on May 5.
Incident Details
When confronted by bystanders, Lytvynchuk initially boasted that he could afford any fines resulting from his actions. However, his defense attorney, Myles Breiner, now asserts that Lytvynchuk was trying to protect other marine life. 'There were two large turtles in the water. When he threw the rock, the intention was to scare the seal away. He had no idea, again, the significance of monk seals. He frankly didn't know we had seals in Hawaii,' Breiner told Hawaii News Now.
Defense Argument
According to Breiner, Lytvynchuk had prior experience with sea lions while working as a fisherman in Washington and knew how aggressive they can be. When Lytvynchuk and his wife were turtle watching, he believed he was performing a heroic act. 'He assumed that when he saw the seal, the monk seal, pushing the turtles off of the rocks, that he was doing something good by scaring it away,' the attorney said. 'He's devastated at the notion that people thought he wanted to injure the seal.'
Backlash and Assault
Lytvynchuk faced further backlash after footage of the incident went viral. He was also assaulted by another man, who beat him 'pretty badly.' Breiner stated that Lytvynchuk had welts all over his back, head, and shoulders but no broken bones. The attorney added that they would not press charges.
Legal Proceedings
Lytvynchuk appeared in court in Seattle on Thursday, charged with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. A judge ordered his release on a personal recognizance bond pending a court appearance in Honolulu on May 27. He was also ordered to surrender his passport. 'He's going to pay the price. We're not going into court and saying no, he didn't do this, but there's always an explanation,' Breiner said.
Potential Penalties
If convicted, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison for each charge and possible fines of up to $70,000. He is also considering donating to wildlife protection efforts as a form of restitution.
