CHIKUN/KAJURU REP, HON. FIDELIX BAGUDU, ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE. (PHOTO).
Tonia Haddix, an exotic animal broker and star of the series Chimp Crazy, was arrested Saturday following the discovery of a chimpanzee hidden in the basement of her Missouri home just over a week earlier. Her arrest is tied to a long-running legal dispute with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) involving another chimp named Tonka. A judge ordered Haddix and her husband’s arrest for contempt of court after they allegedly failed to pay court-ordered fees to PETA. Haddix was released from Camden County jail the next day.
Haddix had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to lying to a federal judge, claiming Tonka—the chimpanzee known for roles in Buddy and George of the Jungle—had died and been cremated. However, it was later revealed that Tonka was alive and being kept in her basement before being removed and placed in a sanctuary. Prosecutors say the recent discovery of a different female chimp in Haddix’s basement violates court orders and shows a blatant disregard for the legal process. Haddix was ordered to reimburse PETA nearly $225,000 in legal fees, and PETA stated that her jail time should be just a preview of the longer sentence they expect. Haddix’s legal troubles, including her custody battle over the chimps, were featured in the HBO documentary series Chimp Crazy.
Comments
Post a Comment