4 years in prison for harassing pregnant Hawaiian monk seal

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LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Hawaii man to four years in prison for harassing a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal.

LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Hawaii man to four years in prison for harassing a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal.

Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar says Shylo Kaena Akuna was sentenced Wednesday for last year’s attack.

KHON-TV reported previously that bystanders recorded video showing a man wading into the water, swinging at the endangered animal and possibly throwing sand at it.

Kollar says Akuna was apparently intoxicated.

Kollar says the seal gave birth to a female pup a week after the incident.

Akuna was sentenced to a year in jail last month for the unrelated theft and slaughter of a goat. He also faces charges on another unrelated case involving an alleged burglary of a hotel room.

Akuna’s defense attorney didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment.