A person who allegedly threw a rock at an endangered monk seal in Hawaii earlier this month and bragged about being wealthy sufficient to pay the fantastic was arrested Tuesday.
Authorities say Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, is the person caught in a viral video throwing a rock {that a} witness described because the “dimension of a coconut” at Lani, an area monk seal, on Could 5, based on a press launch and felony grievance reviewed by JHB.
Lytvynchuk was arrested at his Washington dwelling and “charged by felony grievance … for harassing and making an attempt to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a big rock on the seal’s head, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Safety Act.”
“I circled, and I used to be like, ‘You possibly can’t do this,’” witness Kaylee Schnitzer, 18, informed native information outlet KHON2. “That’s when he informed me, ‘I’m wealthy. Tremendous me with no matter you need. I will pay for it. I come right here each month.’”
In its press launch, the U.S. lawyer’s workplace, District of Hawaii, quoted a witnesses saying Lytvynchuk informed them he was “wealthy sufficient to pay the fines” earlier than he walked away.
“From the video, it seems the rock landed within the water, narrowly lacking the seal’s head however inflicting the animal to abruptly alter its habits, rearing the highest half of its physique up out of the water briefly and handing over the other way,” prosecutors wrote within the felony grievance.
One witness informed authorities that Lani was “clearly not aggressive,” based on the grievance. They went on to say the seal “sprung” out of the water after the rock was thrown and remained largely “motionless for an prolonged time period after the incident.”
An area shirtless vigilante, who Hawaii State Sen. Brenton Awa (R) known as an “environmental activist,” was seen in one other video apparently beating up the person accused of throwing the rock on the monk seal.
Awa awarded a letter of recognition to the “environmental activist,” saying the person “took issues into his personal arms to coach what may occur while you mess with our lands or the animals.”
“Our lawyer over right here desires to make it clear we don’t condone violence, however we did make a letter of recognition for Mr. Ambassador of Aloha,” Awa mentioned.
A lawyer was not listed in Lytvynchuk’s case data, and prosecutors say he remained silent and declined to offer an announcement upon his arrest.
“The distinctive and valuable wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are famend symbols of Hawaii’s particular place on this planet and its unimaginable biodiversity. We’re dedicated to defending our susceptible wild species, specifically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani,” U.S. Lawyer Ken Sorenson mentioned within the press launch. “We pledge that those that harass and try to hurt our protected wildlife will face speedy accountability in federal court docket.”
If convicted, Lytvynchuk faces as much as one 12 months in jail for every cost, plus a fantastic of as much as $50,000 beneath the Endangered Species Act and a fantastic of as much as $20,000 beneath the Marine Mammal Safety Act.