Sentencing Over Purported Chimpanzee Death

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Festus woman, Tonia Haddix, who was involved with the HBO series "Chimp Crazy", will face sentencing over her role in the purported death of a chimpanzee named Tonka.

Haddix admitted in Federal Court Monday to lying about the chimps death. After a series of lawsuits filed by the group PETA, involving the care of primates, including Tonka, at a facility near Festus, Haddix waived her right to indictment by a grand jury and pled guilty to three felony charges including two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.

Haddix had been ordered to transfer Tonka, and six other Chimpanzees, to the Center for Great Apes but lied to the court saying Tonka had died and was cremated while in reality the chimp was alive and was being kept in her bassement. New evidence showing Tonka was alive came to light and the Chimp was transferred to a Save the Chimps Sanctuary where he remains alive today.

Haddix is scheduled to be sentenced July 16th. Each perjury charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The obstruction charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the same fine range.