The attorney representing Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a businessman accused of harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, is defending him publicly after a video of the incident went viral, inciting public outrage.
Lytvynchuk, 38, hailing from Covington, Washington, is alleged to have thrown a rock at the head of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, one of the world’s rarest marine mammals. The incident was captured by beachgoers earlier in the month. He was arrested last week near Seattle and faces charges for harassing and attempting to harass an endangered animal, breaching both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the Department of Justice.
If found guilty, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison for each charge, along with a fine of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Myles Breiner Speaks Out
Lytvynchuk’s attorney, Myles Breiner, recently defended his client, asserting that there was no intent to injure the seal. Breiner told KHON-TV News, “I want to be resoundingly clear to the public — he never intended to injure the monk seal.”
Breiner explained that Lytvynchuk thought he was protecting sea turtles, or honu, resting on the rocks at the shoreline. “He wanted to scare the seal away from the honu he saw there,” Breiner stated, mentioning that the seal had already knocked one of the two large turtles from the rock.
Furthermore, Breiner noted that his client was unaware of the endangered status of Hawaiian monk seals and that past experiences with aggressive sea lions while fishing in Washington shaped his actions.
Video Evidence
The viral video and witness testimonies played a pivotal role in the charges against Lytvynchuk. During the incident, a woman can be heard questioning his actions, “What are you doing? Why would you throw a rock at it? Hello?” This occurred as he threw a rock towards the seal on a Maui beach.
Following the confrontation, Lytvynchuk allegedly remarked that he was “rich enough to pay the fines” if he faced consequences. Breiner disputes this characterization, stating, “That was a misinterpretation.”
Business Records
Lytvynchuk owns a logistics and trucking company based in Kent, Washington. Breiner affirmed that his client intends to take responsibility for violating the law but refutes claims of intentional harm. “He recognizes he made a bad decision, but the decision wasn’t based on trying to hurt the animal,” Breiner asserted.