A lawyer representing 38-year-old Igor Mikhailovich Litvinchuk from Covington, Washington, stated that his client, who was caught on video allegedly throwing rocks at a monk seal, has faced threats and was taken into custody amid widespread outrage.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Litvinchuk’s attorney, Miles Breiner, claimed that the backlash has been significant since the incident went viral.
The footage shows Litvinchuk appearing to throw a rock aiming for the head of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal while it was near the Maui coastline.
Litvinchuk is facing two federal charges for the alleged harassment of the monk seal, an incident that occurred on May 5, 2026. He was arrested on May 13 in the Seattle area.
In an interview with local media, Breiner asserted that Litvinchuk never intended to harm the seals and suggested that he was merely trying to protect them. The lawyer emphasized this point on record, perhaps to clarify the situation amidst negative public perception.
As noted by NOAA, the monk seal population is critically endangered, with only around 1,600 left globally.
If convicted, Litvinchuk faces the possibility of up to a year in prison for each charge, along with potential fines amounting to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
