Maui monk seal rock-throwing suspect faces federal charges

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]The man accused of throwing a rock at an endangered monk seal on Maui now faces formal federal charges. Federal prosecutors today charged 38-year-old Igor Levinchuk with taking the endangered species. Now, the term taking includes harming and harassing a protected monk seal. Cameras caught Levinchuk allegedly throwing the rock at the seal. This was on the Lahaina beach earlier this month. His attorney told Island News that he was unaware that the monk seal was protected by federal law and was trying to chase the seal off from nearby sea turtles, which are also federally protected. Levinchuk was arrested in Washington state and is set to be in a Honolulu federal courtroom tomorrow morning. If convicted, then he could face up to a year in prison and up to $170,000 in a fine.