Court Case Begins for Man Accused of Harassing Monk Seal

Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, from Covington, Washington, is facing federal charges for allegedly throwing a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal in a viral video. His lawyer, Myles Breiner, stated that Lytvynchuk has received threats and has been doxxed following public outrage over the incident. The event occurred on May 5, and Lytvynchuk was arrested on May 13. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on Wednesday. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison for each charge and fines totaling up to $70,000 under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Breiner emphasized that Lytvynchuk did not intend to harm the seal and was attempting to protect it.