Washington Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Endangered Species Act Violation in Hawaii
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old resident of Covington, Washington, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges after allegedly throwing a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal in Lahaina on May 5. The charges include violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Lytvynchuk appeared in court dressed in a blue collared shirt and dark pants, where he was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond. His travel is restricted to Oahu and Washington, and he is prohibited from accessing beaches or approaching marine wildlife in Hawaii. The incident involved an adult male monk seal identified as R404 by NOAA Fisheries scientists. Lytvynchuk, through his attorney, claims he did not intend to harm the seal. If convicted, he faces significant fines and potential imprisonment. 
