Attorney Defends Businessman Accused of Harassing Endangered Monk Seal

The attorney for a businessman accused of harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal defends his client as a video of the incident gains widespread attention online. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, from Covington, Washington, reportedly threw a rock at the head of a Hawaiian monk seal, a rare marine mammal. Beachgoers captured the act on camera.

Lytvynchuk was arrested near Seattle and faces charges of harassing an endangered animal. These charges fall under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If found guilty, Lytvynchuk could face up to one year in prison per charge. He also risks fines of up to $50,000 and $20,000 under the respective acts.

Myles Breiner, Lytvynchuk’s Attorney

Lytvynchuk’s attorney, Myles Breiner, clarified his client’s intentions, denying any aim to injure the animal. Breiner told KHON-TV News that Lytvynchuk was attempting to protect sea turtles, or honu, resting on nearby rocks. Breiner stated, “He wanted to scare the seal away from the honu he saw there.” According to Breiner, unaware that monk seals were endangered, Lytvynchuk’s actions were influenced by past experiences with aggressive sea lions in Washington.

Breiner highlighted his client’s encounters with sea lions, known for taking bait and fish from anglers. He noted, “Sea lions are very aggressive. They’ll take your bait, they’ll take your fish — that’s been his experience.”

Prosecutors and Evidence

Prosecutors pointed to the viral video and witness accounts as key evidence. In the footage, a woman asks a man in swimwear why he threw a rock at the seal. Witnesses claim Lytvynchuk boasted he was “rich enough to pay the fines.” Breiner disputes this, stating his client never said that and attributes any misunderstanding to the phrase “I can afford it.”

Business records link Lytvynchuk to a logistics and trucking company in Kent, Washington. Breiner said Lytvynchuk accepts responsibility for breaking the law but insists he did not mean to harm the seal. Breiner stated, “He recognizes he made a bad decision, but the decision wasn’t based on trying to hurt the animal.”